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TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT 


LETTER FROM THE 
SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE 

TRANSMITTING, IN RESPONSE TO HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 270 

INFORMATION RELATING TO 
TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE 
PROJECT 



January 13,1912.—Referred to the Committee on the Public Lands 
and ordered to be })rinted, with illustrations 


WASHINGTON 

1912 








62d Congress ) 
2d Session J 


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 


/ Document 
t No. 451 


TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT 


LETTER FROM THE 
SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE 

TRANSMITTING, IN RESPONSE TO HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 270 

INFORMATION RELATING TO 
TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE 
PROJECT 


93l 



January 13,1912.—Referred to the Committee on the Public Lands 
and ordered to be printed, with illustrations 


WASHINGTON 










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/■ 







LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. 


Department of Agriculture, 

Office of the Secretary, 
Washington^ January 12^ 1912. 

Hon. South Trimble, 

Clerk of the House of Representatives. 

Sir: In compliance with House resolution No. 270,1 have the honor 
to transmit herewith all the papers in the files of this department, 
indexed and digested, relative to the Truckee-Carson-Lake Tahoe 
project. 

Very respectfully, James Wilson, 

Secretary. 









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TEUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


Report on the Possible Water-Power Development of the Water¬ 
shed or THE Truckee River Above Clarks Station, Nev. 

By O. C. Merrill. 

[Sept. 20, 1009.] 

United States Department of Agriculture, 

Forest Service, District 5, 

San Francisco^ Cal,^ September 20, 1909. 

The Forester, 

ashington, D. C. 

Sir : I beg leave to submit herewith, “ A Report on the Possible 
Water-Power Development of the Watershed of the Truckee River 
Above Clarks Station, Nev.” 

This report has aimed to present in considerable detail such infor¬ 
mation as has been secured concerning the several reservoir sites 
within the Truckee River watershed that might be developed for 
power purposes under the terms of the Truckee River General Elec¬ 
tric Co.—Reclamation Service agreement of May, 1909. While this 
report can not go into the details of cost estimates, upon which alone 
final conclusions could be reached as to the feasibility of the con¬ 
struction of any particular reservoir described herein, it is believed 
that all the sites named are sufficiently favorable to warrant their 
inclusion in a tentative scheme of general development. 

In the several projects for power plants also outlined herein, it 
has been the intention to present such a series of developments as, 
from the data available, would seem not only feasible of construction, 
but also capable of making a complete utilization of the water-power 
resources of the entire watershed, regardless of whether such devel¬ 
opments would be located within or without the Tahoe National 
Forest and regardless of any conflict between such developments and 
the irrigation or other uses dependent upon the water resources of 
the same drainage basin. As stated above, in relation to reservoir 
sites, this report has not gone into estimates of costs of construction, 
such as would be necessary before arriving at any final conclusion 
regarding the feasibility of any particular development outlined 
herein. As far, however, as judgment can be based on the data now 
at hand all these projects seem feasible. 

A brief outline has been given of the origin of the ownership of 
and the right to operate the dam and gates at the outlet of Lake 
Tahoe, and the several changes in title which have led up to the 

5 



6 


TEUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


present claims of the Truckee River General Electric Co., upon 
which are based their recent negotiations with the United States 
Reclamation Service. 

Brief discussions have also been given of the probable effect of 
the execution of this agreement upon the amount of water available 
in the future for the use of the Truckee-Carson project and what 
efl'ect the rights granted under this agreement would have upon the 
creation of a water-power monopoly in eastern California and 


Nevada. 

Special attention is called to the general summary at the end of 
this report, where the main features considered are briefly outlined. 
Very respectfully, 

O. C. Merrill, Engineer. 


INTRODUCTION. 


Instructions .—In pursuance of the request contained in the Asso¬ 
ciate Forester’s letter, “ L—Policy—Power—6-28-09,” a general ex¬ 
amination was made of the watershed and reservoir sites on Donner 
and Prosser Creeks and the Little Truckee River, from July 20-24, 
inclusive, 1909, and of the Washoe Valley, Nev., on July 30 and 31, 
1909, and in accordance with the Associate Forester’s telegram of 
August 13, 1909, a second and more detailed examination of possible 
power locations on the Truckee River watershed was made, from 
Au^ist 19-21, inclusive, 1909. 

Nature of the investigations .—The short period of time devoted 
to the several examinations and the methods necessarily employed 
permit of only approximate results. With two exceptions, only such 
reservoir sites were examined as had been previously examined and 
surveyed by the engineers of the United States Geological Survey. 
These, however, comprise all, or a majority of the sites, that could 
be economically developed. When surveys did not show the heads 
available for power purposes, these were determined by carefully 
checked aneroid-barometer readings. 

Purpose of the investigations .—The investigations, both field and 
office, have aimed to determine, as closely as the data permitted, the 
probable location and feasibility of construction of any reservoirs 
that might be built in the event of the execution of the proposed con¬ 
tract between the Truckee River General Electric Co. and the Rec¬ 
lamation Service; the location and extent of the national forest lands 
that would be involved; the amount of power that could be developed 
on the entire watershed under consideration; the opportunity for the 
monopoly of this powder presented by the terms of the proposed agree¬ 
ment; the relation between the Truckee River General Electric Co. 
and other companies operating or proposing to operate in this or ad¬ 
jacent districts; and, in a general way, how the proposed contract 
would affect the quantity of water available for the Truckee-Carson 
Reclamation project, and what relation it would bear to the general 
jiolicy of the Forest Service toward commercial power developments. 

Data availahle and utilized .—Rainfall records have been kept at 
several stations within the basins of the Truckee River, mainly by 
agents and operatives of the Southern Pacific Railroad and the Lake 
Tahoe Railroad & Transportation Co. These records date back iii 
several^instances to 1870 (see Table No. 2, p. 14), and up to and in- 


TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


7 


eluding 1901 may be found in Water Supply Paper No. 68 of the 
United States Geological Survey, and since that date in report of the 
United States Weather Bureau. 

Records of run-off have been regularly kept by the United States 
Geological Survey at Tahoe, Cal., State Line and Vista, Nev., since 
1900, and for a shorter period of time on Donner and Prosser Creeks 
and on the Little Truckee River, with occasional records and meas¬ 
urements on other streams within the Truckee River watershed. 
These records are published in Water Supply Papers, Nos. 68, 81, 
85, 138, 176, and 212. 

A general study of water storage in the Truckee Basin with de¬ 
scription of the available reservoir sites, with records of rainfall and 
run-off, and with estimates of the storage available for irrigation, 
based upon data up to and including 1901, may be found in Water 
Supply Paper No. 68, 1902, of the United States Geological Survey. 

Information relating to the early history of the operations on the 
Truckee River, the several changes in ownership that have led up to 
the present combination of all the power plants, and to the negotia¬ 
tions with the Reclamation Service culminating in the form of agree¬ 
ment of May, 1909, have been secured mainly through the courtesy of 
Mr. Thomas, of the firm of Thomas, Gerstle, Frick & Beedy, San 
Francisco. 

Location of area affected .—The proposed contract between the 
Truckee River General Electric Co. and the Reclamation Service con¬ 
cerns all the watershed of the Truckee River and its tributaries above 
Clarks Station, Nev., including the watershed of Lake Tahoe, the 
Washoe and Steamboat Valleys. The larger part of this area lies in 
the State of California, comprising portions of Alpine, Eldorado, 
Placer, Nevada and Sierra Counties. The remainder lies in Douglas, 
Ormsby, and Washoe Counties, Nev. The entire area affected is 
about 1,520 square miles, of which about 950 square miles are in Cali¬ 
fornia and the remaining 570 square miles in Nevada. 

As appears on the status map accompanying this report, a rela¬ 
tively small portion of the entire area is national forest land. Every 
alternate section over practically the whole watershed is railroad 
land, while many of the remaining sections have been patented. In 
consequence the amount of national forest land that would be ac¬ 
tually occupied in event of the complete development of this water¬ 
shed is small. The extent of this area will be shown in detail in the 
succeeding pages. 

ORIGIN or THE RIGHTS OF THE TRUCKEE RIW.R GENERAL ELECTRIC 

COMPANY. 


The act of 1870. —In the year 1870 the Donner Lumber & Boom 
Co._, composed of the promoters of the Union Pacific Railroad, Hop¬ 
kins, Stanford, and others, applied to the California Legislature for 
a franchise permitting them to improve the channel of the Truckee 
River from the lake outlet to the town of Truckee by clearing the 
channel of obstructions and by erecting a dam at the lake outlet and 
others at such points as they might desire, between the lake outlet 
and the town of Truckee, for the purpose of rendering the channel 
suitable for the transportation of wood, logs, and lumber. Appli- 


8 


TKUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


cation was also made for the right to levy tolls on all other persons 
or corporations who might wish to use the improved channel for 
similar purposes. The act granting these rights was passed and ap¬ 
proved on April 4, 1870, and was as follows: 

Chapter DXIII. 

An act to authorize the Donner Lumber Boom Co., their associates and as¬ 
signs, to improve the channel of the Truckee River from its source to the 
town of Truckee, and to erect flood gates therein and to collect tolls. 

The people of the State of California, represented in senate and assembly, do 
enact as follows: 

Sec. 1. The Donner Lumber & Boom Co. is hereby authorized and em¬ 
powered to improve, at its own expense, the channel of the Truckee River 
from its source to the eastern boundary of the State of California by removing 
the rocks, bowlders, gravel, and timbers therefrom and by erecting flood gates 
at the outlet of the lake and along the channel of said river, not more than 5 
feet in height, so as to render it practicable to float saw logs, lumber, and 
wood down said channel to said town of Truckee. 

Sec. 2. Whenever the said Donner Lumber & Boom Co. shall have expended, 
in the improvements provided for in the first section of this act, the sum of 
$25,000, then, from that time forward, for the term of 20 years, it shall be and 
is hereby authorized and emiwwered to ask for and collect, demand, and 
receive, as toll and compensation for the use of said improvements of said 
river, from each and every person and corporation, and from all persons float¬ 
ing saw logs or timber intended to be sawed into lumber, or timber to be used 
for building or construction purposes, or lumber or wood, down the channel of 
said river between the lake and said town of Truckee, a sum not exceeding 
50 cents for each 1,000 feet of lumber said timber or saw logs will make and 
not to exceed 50 cents for each 1,000 feet of saw timber and 25 cents for each 
cord of wood containing 128 cubic feet, said toll or compensation to be paid 
before said lumber, logs, timber, or wood reaches said town of Truckee: Provided, 
That this act shall not be so construed as to give the right of collecting any 
tolls or compensation on any lumber or material floated down said stream by 
any of the same from the State of California into the State of Nevada, nor in 
any manner to affect the commerce between said States by way of said stream. 

Sec. 3. If the toll and compensation provided for in the second section of this 
act is not paid before the said timber, logs, lumber, or wood reaches the said 
town of Truckee, said Donner Lumber & Boom Co., its officers, agents, and 
employees, or any person acting under their direction, may seize and take 
into their or his possession the timber, lumber, logs, or wood so floated down the 
Chanel of said river on which the said toll or compensation has not been paid; 
and upon giving two weeks’ notice, in the manner in which constables are 
required to give notice of sale of personal property in execution, he or they 
may sell at public auction, to the highest bidder for cash, sufficient of the same 
to pay the toll or compensation due: Provided, That at the time of making the 
sale at auction the person making the sale shall announce to the bystanders 
the amount of toll due, and shall sell the same in parcels of not more than 
10,000 feet of logs, timber, or lumber, or not more than 10 cords of wood, until 
the amount of toll or compensation has been received. 

Sec. 4. For the puri>ose of ascertaining when the said company to which this 
franchise is granted shall have expended said sum of $25,000 fn the improve¬ 
ment of said river, said company may, at any regular meeting of the board of 
supervisors of Placer County, make proof before said board as to the amount 
then expended in good faith; an order shall be entered on their minutes that 
said sum has been expended on their improvements; and from that time for¬ 
ward said toll or compensation may be collected and received. 

Sec. 5. The dam and floodgates herein authorized to be constructed shall each, 
when constructed, contain a fishway or fish ladder, so that fish can readily 
pass upstream for the purpose of depositing their spawn. Said fishways or fish 
ladders shall be kept by the proprietors of this franchise in constant repair; 
and should, from any cause, the fishway or ladder be out of repair, so that fish 
can not pass up the stream, then during all the period that said fishway or fish 
ladder shall be out of repair said company shall not be authorized to collect 


TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


9 


tolls for any lumber or timber that may be lloated down the river. Should the 
fishways or fish ladders be permitteii to remain for three months in a condition 
so that fish can not pass upstream, then, upon complaint of any citizen and 
proof of the fact to the board of supervisors of Placer County, said board of 
supervisors shall declare the franchise forfeited to the State, whereupon the 
right of said company to collect tolls shall cease: Provided, That this act shall 
not be so construed as to prevent the appropriation of the water of Lake Bigler 
or Truckee River for manufacturing, irrigating, domestic, or mining purposes 
in such manner as not to decrease the supply of water in said river below the 
quantity necessary to carry into effect the provisions of this act, nor to interfere 
with the use of the channel of said river for the purpose herein granted to the 
company named in this act. 

Sec. G. This act shall take effect from and after its passage. 

Approved, April 4, 1870. 

Under the provisions of this act a timber crib dam was constructed 
at the outlet of Lake Tahoe, with its spillway at such an elevation as 
to raise the lake level 6 feet—not 5 feet, as stipulated in the act— 
while several other smaller dams were constructed along the river 
between the lake and the town of Truckee. 

About five years after the passage of this act, namely, on November 
6, 1875, as the minutes of the board of supervisors of Placer County 
show (see Appendix I), the Donner Lumber & Boom Co. made 
proof to the above board of the expenditure of the $25,000 stipulated 
in the act and presumably from that date forward began to exercise 
the right of collecting tolls. The 20-year limit for exercising this 
right would therefore have expired on November 0, 1895. No pro¬ 
vision seems to have been made in the act, however, for the termina¬ 
tion of the right to maintain the dam and to use the channel for the 
purpose of transporting logs and timber, except for proved violation 
of the requirements to maintain fish ladders in the several dams. 
Whether the terms of the act were followed any more closely in this 
regard than in that limiting the height of the dams is not known, or 
whether any complaint during the time in which the franchise was 
enjoyed was ever made by any citizen, as provided for in section 5. 

EXERCISE OF RIGHT BY PRESCRIPTION. 

How long the Donner Lumber & Boom Co. operated the flood¬ 
gates for the purposes granted in the act is also uncertain. Mr. 
Taylor, in his report in 1902 (Water Supply Paper No. 68), states 
that the dam at the outlet of the lake had not been used for floating 
logs for five years previous to that date. The outlet dam has, how¬ 
ever, been used continually for regulating the flow from Lake Tahoe 
to serve the interests of the power plants that have been constructed 
along the river between Truckee and Beno. 

How good a title to the use of this outlet dam for power purposes 
the Donner Lumber & Boom Co. acquired under the above act and 
under the subsequent apparently undisputed and uncontested posses¬ 
sion and operation of the floodgates and whether that right has been 
fortified by appropriation under general State law is also uncertain. 
The records of Placer and Eldorado Counties are being se.yched and 
any information bearing upon this question will be submitted later. 
.It is the opinion of a prominent attorney, who has for several years 
been concerned in the transfer of these properties, that the title passed 
by the Donner Lumber & Boom- Co. to its successors is, to say the 
least, not unassailable. 


10 


TRUCKEE-CABSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


Having long discontinued the use of the dam for the purposes 
originally intended and getting no returns to offset the expense of 
operation, the Donner Lumber & Boom Co., in the persons of the 
heirs of the original incorporators, in the year 1903 (dates are ap¬ 
proximate only) issued notices to the owners of power plants along 
the river containing demands for rental in consideration of the use 
of the water stored and controlled by the company’s dam and gates. 
These notices were at first ignored, but when supported by the 
threat to open the gates and allow all the stored waters to escape, the 
Fleischackers, who owned two of the power plants below Truckee, 
made overtures for the purchase of so much of the land at the outlet 
of the lake as would serve to include the dam and gates, together 
with whatever of title to and right to operate these gates the Donner 
Lumber & Boom Co. had acquired. The 54 acres described in the 
Truckee River General Electric Co.-Reclamation Service agreement 
was accordingly sold to the Fleischackers for $45,000, with a clause 
inserted in the deed granting in addition the littoral rights along that 
strip of land still retained by the Donner Lumber & Boom Co., and 
separating the 54-acre tract from the Tahoe Tavern property, together 
with the sole privilege of cutting a channel through this piece of 
property for the purpose of carrying out thereby the water of Lake 
Tahoe. 


NEGOTIATIONS WITH UNITED STATES RECLAMATION SERVICE. 

Not long thereafter the United States Reclamation Service, through 
Messrs. Bien, Savage, and Taylor, sought to purchase the tract still 
owned by the Donner Lumber & Boom Co., and, apparently not 
believing that the deeding of the littoral rights along this property 
to the Fleischackers could hold, bought this property for $7,500 from 
the Donner Lumber & Boom Co., with the intention of immediately 
constructing through this land a second and artificial outlet from 
Lake Tahoe. The contract for the work was let and the men and 
machinery were on the ground, when all operations w^ere stopped by 
injunctions levied by Messrs. Tevis and Baldwin, and the contract 
was canceled. 

Negotiations appear to have been carried on with the Fleisch- 
acker interests looking to some form of equitable and mutually sat¬ 
isfactory agreement by which the Reclamation Service should pur¬ 
chase the 54-acre tract at the lake outlet and should secure control 
and operation of the dam and gates in return for guaranteeing to 
the power company a certain minimum flow of water at their plants. 
Deeds were drawn up providing for such arrangements, but never 
came to the point of final execution. (See pages 130-141.) 

CONSOLIDATION BY THE HAMMON INTERESTS. 

In the meantime the so-called Hammon interests, including, it is 
stated, a syndicate of English capitalists and New York and Boston 
bankers, together with the engineering firm of Stone & Webster, of 
Boston, and through F. G. Baum, of San Francisco, working in co-‘ 
operation with the Nevada-California Power Co., acquired control of 
all the power plants operating on the Truckee River. Under the new 


TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


11 


management the rights demanded the company in return for allow¬ 
ing the Reclamation Service to control and operate the gates at the 
lake outlet in such manner as to render available the flood waters by 
them appropriated acquired new proportions and included in the form 
of agreement of March, 1909 (see pages 130-141), in addition to the 
stipulations of the earlier contract, the right to take the waters of 
Lake Tahoe through an artificial outlet, “the second diversion,*’ at a 
place and at a time subject only^ to the company’s option; the right to 
locate reservoirs, power houses, roads, conduits, and transmission lines 
on any public land Avithin the entire watershed of Lake Tahoe and the 
Truckee River, subject only to the condition that such selections must 
be made within a period of five years and construction must be com¬ 
pleted within a further period of five years, and the right to hold and 
use these sites in perpetuity, subject to no charge and to no control. 

PRESENT POAVER DEA ELOPMENTS. 

FLORISTON PULP & PAPER CO., AT FLORISTON. 

Water Supply Paper No. 08 gives the folloAving description of this 
plant: 

The Floriston Pulp & Paper Co. * * * is engaged in the maniifactnre of 

paper from wood pnlp. For the operation of the plant the water is diA'erted 
from the river by means of a timber dam and is conveyed to the mill through a 
AA’ooden-stave pipe 5 feet in interior diameter and 2,000 feet long. Six turbines, 
A’arying in capacity from 100 to 1,000 horsepower and aggregating 2,700 horse¬ 
power, are employed to run the machinery, the water being delivered to each 
Avheel under a head of 51 feet. It is estimated by the owners of the plant that 
1,500 horsepower is required to run it to its full capacity, to generate which 
about 320 cubic feet per second of water is needed. The flow of the river during 
the fall and winter, hoAvever, is frequently less than that amount, and, as a con¬ 
sequence, the company is now preparing to install steam ijower for supplementary 
uses. (Water Supply Paper No. 68, 1902, p. 70.) 

The “indenture,” dated October 15, 1908 (see pages 130-141), states 
the “ diversion capacity ” of the plant to be 400 cubic feet per second 
and the “ head ” as 56 feet, Avhich, with 80 per cent efficiency of the 
Avater wheels, would give 2,040 horsepoAver. Since this is, hoAvever, a 
low-head plant and probabl}^ is not equipped Avith up-to-date ma¬ 
chinery, it is likely that the efficiency is not above 60 per cent, Avhich 
Avould giA^e a maximum outi^ut of but little over 1,500 horsepower. 

TRUCKEE RIVER GENERAL ELECTRIC CO. AT FARAD. 

Less than 2 miles below Floriston is the power plant of the Truckee River 
General Electric Co., Avhich is engaged in the development of power for trans¬ 
mission electrically to Virginia, for use in mining operations. The water em¬ 
ployed for this purpose is taken from the river immediately below the Floriston 
Paper Mills, and is conveyed by means of a wooden flume, 8,500 feet in length, 
to the power house, Avhere it is delivered to the wheels under a head of 85.G 
feet. The inside dimensions of the flume are, width 10 feet and depth 7 feet. 
Its carrying capacity when filled to a depth of 6 feet is estimated at 300 second- 
feet. (Water Supply Paper No. 68, 1902, p. 73.) 

The “ indenture ” of October 15, 1908, gives the “ diATvsion ca¬ 
pacity ” as 400 cubic feet per second and the “ head ” as 85 feet. The 
“ diversion capacity ” there given is largely in excess of the estimated 
capacity of the flume as given above. HoAvever, if the figures given 


12 


TEUCKEE-CAPiSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


in the “ indenture ” be accepted, the power generated would be, at 80 
per cent efficiency, 3,090 horsepower, and at 60 per cent efficiency, 
2,320 horsepower. Probably, as in the case ^ the Floriston Pulp & 
Paper Co., 60 per cent efficiency more nearly represents the real ca¬ 
pacity of the plant. This is corroborated by a statement in the En¬ 
gineering Kecord of July 17, 1909, saying that the capacity of the 
plant is 1,700 kilowatts, which is equivalent to 2,280 horsepower^ 

TRUCKEE RIVER GENERAL ELECTRIC CO. AT FLEISCH. 

This plant is situated at Fleisch, about 8 miles below Farad. In 
the above-mentioned “ indenture ” its “ diversion capacity ” is said to 
be 300 cubic feet per second and the “ head ” 26 feet, which at 80 per 
cent efficiency of the Avheels would make a power output of 3,440 
horsepower. The installed capacity is stated in the Engineering 
Eecord of July 17, 1909, page 73, to be 2,300 kilowatts, which is 
equivalent to 3,080 horsepower. 

WASHOE POWER & DEVELOPMENT CO. AT MOGUL. 

The power house is situated on the Truckee Kiver a short distance 
below the poTver house at Fleisch. The “ indenture ” gives the “ di¬ 
version capacity ” as 320 cubic feet per second and the “ head ” at 88 
feet, which at 80 per cent efficiency of the wheel would make a power 
output of 2,400 horsepower, and at 60 per cent efficiency, 1,800 horse¬ 
power. 

RENO POWER LIGHT & WATER CO. AT RENO. 

About 11 miles above Reno the Reno Electric Light & Power Co. diverts 
water from the river to supply power for lighting the town. For this purpose 
it is estimated by the electrician in charge that 200 horsepower is now em¬ 
ployed, and as the net head on the water wheel is about 38 feet, approximately 
60 cubic feet per second are necessary. The capacity of the canal and flume 
from the river is probably double this, however. (Water Supply Paper No. 
68, 1902, p. 73.) 

The diversion capacity, as stated in the “ indenture,” is 250 cubic 
feet per second, or double that stated in the above report. The 
“ head ” is given as 41 feet. New equipment has been recently in¬ 
stalled, consisting of a unit of 700-kilowatt capacity, equivalent to 
840 horsepower, making the efficiency of the plant as reconstructed 
about 80 per cent. 

OTHER POWER DEVELOPMENTS ON THE TRUCKEE RIVER. 

The above-named power plants are all at present under the control 
of the Truckee River General Electric Co., which furnishes power 
for lighting in Truckee, Reno, Virginia, Carson, and several other 
towns, supplies current for the street railway system in Reno, and 
transmits power at 20,000 volts for use in the mines at Virginia City. 
In addition to the preceding, there are several power plants or fac¬ 
tories of small capacity on the river; the Truckee Lumber Co.’s saw¬ 
mill and sash factories at Truckee, the Verdi Mill Co.’s factories at 
Verdi, the Riverside Flour Mill and the Reno Reduction Works at 
Reno, and the Wadsworth Light & Power Co. at Wadsworth, with 
an aggregate capacity amounting to probably 900 horsepower. 


TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


13 


Table No. 12, page 58, gives a summary of the “ diversion ca¬ 
pacity,” “ head,” and “ power capacity ” of the several plants outlined 
above. 

DESCRIPTION or DRAINAGE BASIN. 

Physical characteristics .—About 15 miles south of the southern 
limit of Lake Tahoe the Sierra Nevada Mountains divide into two 
branches, the main range forming the western boundary of the 
Truckee River drainage basin; the branch range and its extension, 
the Washoe Mountains, forming the southern and eastern boundary. 
A range of less elevation extending from Webber Peak on the main 
divide and meeting the AYashoe Mountains near Vista, Nev., forms 
the northern boundary of that portion of the watershed under 
present consideration. AYith the exception of the AYashoe Valley, 
the so-called Truckee Yleadows and certain other areas of small 
extent, the entire watershed consists of mountain slopes, apparently 
formerly well timbered, though now in a large measure cut over. 
The cut-over areas are^ however, well covered with brush or “ second 
growth,” and therefore capable of partially conserving the run-off 
and preventing sudden floods and consequent destruction of the 
slopes. 

Ownership ).—A map is presented with this report showing the 
status of all the lands likely to be affected by water-power develop¬ 
ments on this watershed. 

Area ami elevationcs .—As stated above, the entire area concerned 
in this report covers about 1,520 square miles. Of this area, 520 
square miles form the watershed of Lake Tahoe, the other 1,000 
square miles comprise the remaining watershed of the Truckee above 
Vista, Nev., and include the main tributaries, Donner Creek, Prosser 
Creek, and the Little Truckee River. 

For the purpose of making studies of rainfall and run-off, the 
areas tributary to several of the possible reservoir sites have been 
measured, as well as the area on each watershed lying between cer¬ 
tain limits of elevation. Results of these measurements are shown 
in Table No. 1, page 14. 

PRECIPITATION. 

Precipitation records have been kept at five stations within'the 
Truckee River watershed since 1870, and for shorter periods at 
several other stations. These records have been included in Table 
No. 2, page 14. These stations vary in elevation from AVadsworth, 
Nev., elevation 4,077 feet, to Summit, Cal., elevation 7,017 feet, a 
range of 2,940 feet. An examination of the precipitation at the 
several stations, arranged according to elevation, as in Table No. 3, 
page 15, shows a fairly uniform increase in precipitation with eleva¬ 
tion. Other factors than elevation necessarily modify the rainfall 
at the stations shown, particularly the interposition of that branch 
of the Sierra Nevada Range which intersects the watershed between 
the Tahoe and AA^ashoe Basins. Also, the records at several of these 
stations are of too short duration to be reliable. Table No. 3 shows, 
however, a close relation between the depth of precipitation and the 
elevation of the station. 


14 


TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT, 


Table No. 1. —Areas of tvatershecls tributary to certain possible reservoir sites, 
tvith areas between certain elevations, in square miles. 



Webber 

Lake. 

Little 
Truckee 
No. 1. 

Independ¬ 
ence Creek.i 

Twin and 
Euers Val¬ 
leys. 

Donner 
Creek. 2 

Above 8,000 feet. 

0.0 

3.9 

2.9 

3.5 

0.6 

8,000-7,000 feet. 

8.9 

6.6 

9.9 

9.8 

8.6 

Below 7,000 feet. 

3 5.1 

4 8.8 

<2.9 

7.7 

6 21.5 

Below 6,000 feet. 

0.0 

0.0 

0.0 

0.0 

1.8 

Total area. 

14.0 

19.3 

15.7 

21.0 

30.7 

Percentage of area. 






Above 8,000 feet. 

0 

20 

18 

17 

2 

Above 7,000 feet. 

64 

54 

82 

64 

30 

Below 7,000 feet. 

36 

46 

18 

36 

70 

Below 6,000 feet. 

0 

0 

0 

0 

6 


1 Includes I>ower Independence Creek. 

2 Includes Cold and Trout Creeks. 

» None below 6,700 feet elevation. 

* None below 6,500 feet elevation. 

6 Includes the 1.8 square miles which is below 6,000 feet elevation. 

Table No. 2. —Annual rainfall, in inches, at 10 stations on eastern slope of Sierra 
Nevada in and adjacent to basin of Truckce liiveiA 


station. 


Year. 

Wads¬ 

worth. 

Reno. 

Verdi. 

Boca. 

Truckee. 

Summit. 

Lewers 

Ranch. 

Genoa. 

Carson. 

Elevation... 

4,077 

4,497 

4,895 

5,541 

5,819 

7,017 

5,177 

4,824 

4,670 

1870. 

2.30 



13.46 

23.28 

34.29 




1871. 

4.04 

4.86 


16.87 

36.71 

60.00 




1872. 

.70 

4.11 


8.40 

27.29 

37.90 




1873. 

1.84 

2.75 


11.65 

26.16 

40.95 




1874. 

4.13 

5.70 


21.85 

35.69 

18.85 




1875. 

3.96 

6.06 


10.66 

27.50 

33.86 



17. 73 

1876. 

2.27 

3.59 


17.73 

28.85 

46.90 



9.06 

1877. 

4.27 

5.68 


8.89 

16.13 

26.73 




1878. 

4.85 

6.32 


15.81 

25.81 

32.69 




1879. 

3.88 

4.02 


21.08 

27.86 

73.67 




1880. 

3.31 

6.70 


16.79 

37.61 

64.50 



13.10 

1881. 

5.01 

5.89 


2.42 

21.28 

30.95 



10.33 

1882. 

3.56 

5.48 


21.00 

30.50 

62.12 



11.29 

1883. 

2.82 

3.95 


11.30 

16.80 

23.57 



6.95 

1884. 

4.79 

6.17 


28.60 

43.81 

60. 47 



17.82 

1885. 

3.59 

2.95 


8.38 

14.91 

25.41 



11.32 

1886. 

5.30 

4.82 


17.60 

18.55 

41.00 



10.93 

1887. 

6.70 

5.78 


20.39 

25.95 

49.97 



8.54 

1888. 

3.78 

4.60 


11.23 

8.85 

38.02 



7.12 

1889. 

5.19 

6. 43 

17,87 

38.40 

19.16 

51.42 


22.80 

12 44 

1890. 

6.78 

9.72 

15.63 

32.07 

39.45 

58.83 


16.89 

is ^ 

1891. 

6.22 

10.45 


28.10 

26.85 

26.03 

29.00 

22.61 

18 30 

1892. 

4.65 

11.92 

is. 33 

29.05 

31. io 

44.70 

26.29 

14 25 

1893. 


4.74 


27.62 

32.54 


22.66 

15 78 

11 42 

1894. 


7.27 


27.64 

30.45 


25.69 

i2 50 

10 78 

1895. 

4.51 

5.53 

20.97 

16.47 

23.39 


20.36 

10.45 

10 91 

1896. 

10.28 

10.59 

23.09 

30.50 

29.61 


30.50 

14 64 

1897. 

7.25 

8.00 

13.13 

26.02 

27.33 


25.61 


13 62 

1898. 

4.27 

6.41 

3.91 

14.81 

12.21 

31.46 

14.32 


A nj. 

1899. 

5.32 

8.50 

18.06 

32.47 

33.86 

73,80 

26.35 


Q 7ft 

1900. 

5.30 

7.81 

8.97 

26.27 

17.56 

42.52 

23.72 


10 .13 

1901. 




10.67 

26.43 

49.60 


1902. 




10.82 

19.68 

49.00 




1903. 




18.63 

27.69 

40.50 




1904. 





40.19 

76.54 




1905...:. 





17.67 

43.85 




1906. 


11.05 


24.18 

32.52 

57.55 

39.78 


17.37 

1907. 




29.74 

42.27 

66.48 


1908. 


5.42 


9.47 

14.61 

33,28 

10.67 












Mean. 

4.51 

2 6. 73 

15.56 

2 20.13 

2 26.88 

2 46.58 

2 24.90 

16.87 

12.07 


1 Extended from table in W. S. Paper, No. 68,1902, U. S. G. S. 

2 Normals for complete period of observation, from report U. S. Weather Bureau. 






















































































































































TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAtlOE PROJECT. 


15 


Table No. 3. —Increase in precipitation with each 100 feet rise in elevation 

above Wadsworth, Nev., as base} 


station. 

Length of 
record. 

Elevation. 

Elevation 

above 

Wads¬ 

worth. 

Mean pre¬ 
cipitation .2 

Increase in 
precipitation 
over Wads¬ 
worth. 

Constant in¬ 
crease for 
each 100 feet 
rise. 

Wadsworth, Nev. 

Years. 

29 

Feet. 

4,077 

4,497 

4,670 

Feet. 

Inches. 

4.51 

Inches. 

Inches. 

Reno, Nev. 

38 

420 

6.73 

2.22 

0.53 

Carson, Nev. 

24 

593 

12.07 

7.56 

1.27 

Genoa, Nev. 

6 

4,824 

4,895 

5,177 

747 

16.87 

12.36 

1.65 

Verdi, Nev. 

9 

818 

15.56 

11.05 

1.35 

Lewefs Ranch, Nev. 

18 

1,100 

24.90 

20.39 

1.86 

Boca, Cal. 

37 

5,541 

1,464 

1,742 

2,940 

20.13 

15.62 

1.07 

Truckee, Cal. 

39 

5 ; 819 
7,017 

26.88 

22.37 

1.28 

Summit, Cal. 

34 

46.58 

42.07 

1.43 


Mean. 






1.30 








1 Adapted from corresponding table in W. S. Paper No/68, 1902, U. S. G. S. 

2 From Table No. 2, page 14. 


Table No. 4. —Estimated mean annual precipitation of certain ivatershed areas 

in Truckee River drainage basin. 


[Based on Diagram No. 1 and Table No. 1.] 


Watershed.. 

Area. 

Estimated 
mean annual 
precipitation. 

Percentage 
increase over 
Donner Creek. 

Independence Creek 1 . 

Webber Lake. 

Square miles. 

15.7 
14.0 
19.3 
21.0 

30.7 

Inches. 

53.4 

50.4 
50.3 
49.8 
42.6 

25.3 

18.3 
18.1 
16.9 

Little Truckee No. 12 . 

Twin and Euers Valleys. 

Dnnnpr Creek 3 . 




1 Includes lower Independence Creek. 3 Including Cold and Trout Creeks. 

2 Not including Webber Lake watershed. 

From Table No. 3, Diagram No. 1 has been prepared, showing 
graphically the relation of precipitation to elevation. On this dia¬ 
gram has been drawn an average curve of mean annual precipitation, 
with varying elevation, which has been extrapolated to 8,000 feet to 
indicate the probable precipitation at points of the watershed at an 
elevation above that of Summit, Cal. 

On the basis of the mean curve of Diagram No. 1 and of Table No. 
1, Table No. 4 has been prepared to show the probable average pre¬ 
cipitation upon the several sections of the watershed tributary tn 
certain possible reservoir sites. In determining the average precipi¬ 
tation from the curve all areas above 8,000 feet in elevation were 
assumed to have the precipitation as shown by the curve for 8,000 
feet, and areas between two given elevations, the precipitation at the 
mean of the two elevations. The last column in Table No. 4 shows 
the precipitation upon the first four watersheds in excess of that upon 
the Donner Creek watershed. 

' RUN-OFF AND STREAM FLOW. 


Data available and utilized. —Run-off records have been kept for 
a number of years at several stations on the watershed of the Truckee 
River. Those of longest duration are at Tahoe, the outlet of the 










































16 


TKUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


lake at the California-Nevada State line, and at Vista, Nev. Records 
of shorter duration have been kept for Donner and Prosser Creeks 
and for the Little Truckee River, with occasional measurements of 
many other smaller streams on the watershed. These records are 
published in Water-Supply Papers Nos. 68, 81, 85,133,176, and 212. 

Run-off tables .—Records of run-off at Tahoe do not represent the 
natural regimen of the stream at that point due to the regulation of 



the flow by the dam and gates at the outlet. Furthermore, it has 
been desired to study the run-off of the Truckee River, which would 
be available for power purposes at Floriston, Cal., if the water of 
Lake Tahoe watershed should be diverted as proposed in the pending 
contract between the Truckee River General Electric Co. and the 
United States Reclamation Service. Hence, Section I of Table No. 
15 (appended to this report) shows the run-off of that portion of the 




























































































TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


17 


Truckee Kiver watershed between the outlet of Lake Tahoe and the 
California-Nevada State line, and has been determined by taking 
fehe difference between the average run-offs of the two stations during 
the same months for the several years, 1900 to 1906, inclusive, the 
longest period during which continuous records were available for 
both stations. Though the Calif ornia-Nevada State line is several 
miles below Floriston, the only watershed area tributary to the stream 
throughout this distance is the immediate river canyon, and hence the 
difference in run-off between the two stations would be immaterial. 

Section 11 of Table No. 15 gives the run-off' records of the Little 
Truckee River at Pine Station. Actual records are available only 
for July, August, November, and December, 1903, and for the years 
1904, 1905, 1906. The period when comparative records are available 
shows the run-off from this watershed to be practically the same as 
on the main river given in Section I, the run-off for the 3-year 
period being only 0.7 per cent greater on the Little Truckee than on 
the main river. Even for individual months during this period the 
variation is not wide. Estimates have, therefore, been made for the 
years 1900 to 1903, inclusive, on the assumption that the run-off, in 
inches upon the watershed, was the same on the two areas, and from 
these figures the other columns in the section have been computed. 

Section III contains the run-off records for Donner Creek, below 
Cold Creek, and includes the 3.7 square miles of area of Trout Creek 
which could be developed for power purposes in connection with 
Donner Creek. For the stations on Donner Creek records are avail¬ 
able for October, November, and December, 1902, and for the years 
1903 to 1906, inclusive. The records, as given in the reports of the 
United States Geological Survey, have been increased about 10 per 
cent, so that Section III, as given, shall include the run-off of Trout 
Creek also. 'WTiile the latter watershed lies at a lower average ele¬ 
vation than the Donner Creek watershed, the area is so small that its 
inclusion on the basis stated could make but small error in the total 
run-off of the combined areas, even if the assumed percentage were 
incorrect. A comparison of the run-off of Donner Creek with the 
main Truckee River for the years 1903 to 1906, inclusive, measured in 
inches upon the watershed, shows the former to be 2.2 times the latter. 
The greatly increased run-off of this small section as compared with 
the total watershed considered is due to the greater average elevation 
of the smaller area and the consequent greater precipitation (see 
Diagram No. 1, p. 16), as well as to the greater percentage of run-off 
on this small watershed on account of its steeper slopes. 

Considerable variation between the ratios of the run-offs of the 
two areas wdll be found if the records be compared month by month. 
To determine the average percentage that could be applied to secure 
approximate figures of run-off for the years in which no records were 
available, the average run-offs, measured in inches upon the water¬ 
shed, have been compared by months and plotted in Diagram No. 2. 
Through these plotted points an average curve has been drawn and 
from this curve have been taken the percentages, which applied fo 
the figures of run-off in inches upon the watershed, as given in 
column 4, of section I, give the figures shown in section IV. The 
average annual run-off thus computed is 2.05 times the Truckee 
River run-off. The diagram shows that the average monthly per- 

23914°—H. Doc. 451, 62-2-2 


18 


TEUCKEE-CAESON-LAKE TAHOE PEOJECT. 


centages of run-off vary widely and increase to a maximum in June. 
While it is, of course, recognized that this method of estimation of 
run-off is approximate only and can be justified only because no 
actual records have been made for the years 1900, 1901, and the 
greater part of 1902, yet it is believed that the results are sufficiently 
close for the purpose of this report, which aims to give only ap- 


I 


I 

M ty 

ti 3 










--t- 




--P- 








--t-- 

» - 



1 - 



- } 

1 — 







--t- 




:=f: 




-4- 








^ - 




:=F 












::± 




:==^ 




—€ 4 

F - 




^ - 




F” 



~r 

in:: 

:V: 



December 


November 


October 


September 


August 


Ju/x 


June 


May 


Arif 


March 


February 


January 


• FERCEdfTAGES 


proximate figures of the amounts of power that might be developed 
upon the watershed. 

Section IV gives the run-off records of Prosser Creek at the gaging 
station below Alder Creek. But few records are available for this 
portion of the watershed. Such records as are given indicate that 
the run-off of this area, measured in inches upon the watershed, is 
about 70 per cent in excess of the run-off of the main Truckee water- 



























































TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


19 


shed. The figures of run-off given in this section have, therefore, 
been obtained by increasing the figures given in the fourth column 
of section 1, by the percentages shown in table No. 5. 

Table No. 5. —Percentages applied to run-off records of Truckee River from 
Tahoe to State line {measured in inches on the watershed) for the purpose 
of estimating the approximate run-off of certain other areas. 


Month. 

Donner Creek. 

Prosser Creek. 

Webber, Inde¬ 
pendence, 
Twin, and 
Euers. 

Little Truckee 
No. 1.1 

January. 

2 180 

3 149 

3 184 

3 182 

February. 

195 

162 

200 

197 

March. 

210 

174 

215 

212 

April. 

225 

187 

230 

227 

May. 

235 

195 

241 

237 

June. 

240 

199 

246 

242 

July. 

235 

195 

241 

237 

August. 

225 

187 

230 

227 

September. 

210 

174 

215 

212 

October. 

190 

157 

195 

192 

November. 

170 

141 

174 

172 

December. 

150 

124 

154 

152 

Means. 

205 

170 

* 210 

207 


* Including Lower Independence Creek. * From Column No. 1, in proportion to the means. 

* From Diagram No. 2, p. 18. 


As shown in Table No. 3, page 15, the probable precipitation on the 
watersheds of Webber Lake, Little Truckee Reservoir No. 1 (not in¬ 
cluding Webber Lake watershed). Independence Creek, and Twin 
and Euers Valleys is considerably in excess of the precipitation on 
the Donner Creek watershed. No run-off measurements for these 
specific areas have been made nor have any records been kept. Esti¬ 
mates have therefore been made on the basis of the run-off of Donner 
Creek, somewhat increased on account of the probably greater pre¬ 
cipitation on the above-named areas. The estimated run-off, in 
inches upon the watershed, for the drainage basin of Little Truckee 
Reservoir No. 1, including Lower Independence Creek, has been as¬ 
sumed the same as for Donner Creek, namely, 2.05 times the corre¬ 
sponding run-off of Truckee River; and for Webber Lake, Upper 
Independence Creek, and Twin and Euers Valleys, as 2.1 times the 
corresponding run-off for the same periods on the main Truckee 
watershed. (See Table No. 5.) 

Other sections shown in Table No. 12 are obtained by combining 
the records of two or more preceding sections. 

No special studies have been made of the Lake Tahoe watershed 
because, as stated above, the records at the gauging station at Tahoe 
show the flow as modified by the operation of the dam and gates at 
the outlet. Tables Nos. 6 and 7, however, have been prepared, and 
give the average monthly discharge at the outlet for the years 1900 
to 1908, inclusive. The figures of total run-off for any given period 
represent the available yield of the watershed for that period only 
if the lake level was the same at the end as at the beginning of the 
period of observation. 

A diagram, adapted from a similar one prepared by D. W. Hayes 
of the United States Reclamation Service, is appended to this report, 
and shows, in curve No. 1, the variations in the level of Lake Tahoe 























20 


TKUCKEE-CAKSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


from November, 1900, to December, 1908, inclusive. This diagram 
shows also that the amount held in storage at the latter date was 
25,000 acre-feet in excess of the amount in storage at the earlier 
date. If the average discharge for the period ’be corrected by this 
amount, the mean annual run-off of the watershed for the eight years 
two months will be 309,000 a ere-feet (see Tables Nos. 6 and 7, equiva¬ 
lent to a continuous flow of 423 cubic feet per second. 


Table No. G.— Mean inontldy diseharge of Truckce River at Tahoe, Cal.,, in 

acre-feet, 1900-1908, inclusive. 


Month. 

1900 

1901 

1902 

1903 

1904 

1905 

1906 

1907 

1908 

January. 


6,262 

4,502 

1,845 

565 

7,686 
4,054 
3,197 
2,856 
5,964 
5,653 
12,543 
24,964 
20,826 
19,922 
20,588 
20,045 

16,356 

5,720 

11.683 
774 
799 

2,261 
12,605 
21,152 

23.683 
22,996 
15,174 
15,987 

18.750 
6,385 

24,660 
36,300 
49,130 
53,490 
53,680 
48,930 
45,280 
41,320 
42,310 

37.750 

25,210 
24,050 
19, 740 
1,244 
10,640 
12,620 
18,630 
24,040 
22,910 
23,980 
18,150 
16,660 

18,700 
22,000 

27.200 
29,000 

33.400 

35.300 
44,600 

46.300 

45.200 
44,600 

41.400 
39,800 

42.900 
40,700 
47,000 
48,000 
56,500 
67,200 

79.900 

76.900 
72,000 

67.600 
55,000 

50.600 

46,400 

38.200 

36.600 

12.600 
3,490 
3,210 

19.100 

27.900 

23.200 
21,800 

17.900 

17.100 

February.... 


March..._ 


April. 


May. 


June. 

3,106 
13,131 
14,261 
11,667 
9,781 
8,047 
4,981 

1,765 
13,809 
25,760 
19,395 
17,308 
14,678 
6,841 

July. 

Au^st. 

September... 

October. 

November... 
December... 

Year.. 

1 64,973 

112,730 

143,298 

149,190 

457,445 

217,870 

427,500 

703,700 

267,600 


1 Total of period. 

Total discharge, November, 1900 (earliest date on which records of lake level are available), to Decem¬ 
ber, 1908, inclusive, 2,497,000 acre-feet. 

Storage in Lake Tahoe, Dec. 31, 1908, in excess of storage Nov. 1, 1900, 25,000 acre-feet. 

Total yield of watershed, November, 1900, to December, 1908, inclusive, 2,522,000 acre-feet. 

Mean annual discharge of watershed, November, 1900, to December, 1908, inclusive, 309,000 acre-feet. 
(From diagram prepared by U. S. Reclamation Service.) 

Table No. 7 . — Mean monthly discharge of Truckee River at Tahoe, Cal., in cubic 

feet per second, 1900-1908, inclusive. 


Month. 

1900 

1901 

1902 

1903 

1904 

1905 

1906 

1907 

1908 

January. 


102 

125 

266 

305 

410 

304 

697 

754 

February. 


81 

73 

103 

111 

433 

396 

732 

666 

March.. 


30 

52 

190 

401 

321 

443 

765 

596 

April. 


9 

48 

13 

610 

21 

488 

806 

212 

May. 



97 

13 

799 

173 

543 

919 

57 

June. 

52 

30 

95 

38 

899 

212 

594 

1,130 

54 

July. 

214 

225 

204 

205 

873 

303 

725 

1,300 

311 

August. 

232 

419 

406 

344 

787 

391 

753 

1,250 

453 

September. 

196 

326 

350 

398 

761 

385 

759 

i;210 

390 

October. 

159 

282 

324 

374 

672 

390 

726 

1,100 

354 

November. 

135 

247 

346 

255 

711 

305 

695 

'925 

300 

December. 

81 

111 

326 

260 

614 

271 

647 

823 

278 

Year. 

1 153 

155 

204 

205 

629 

301 

589 

971 

369 


* 7-month mean. 

Mean discharge, Nov., 1900 (earliest date on which records of lake level are available). Dec., 1908,inclu¬ 
sive, 423 cubic feet per second (including the 25,000 acre-feet storage in Lake Tahoe on Dec. 31,1908, in 
excess of the storage therein Nov. 1,1900. See Table No. 6). 


RESERVOIRS AND STORAGE. 


Lakes .—Within the upper watershed of the Truckee River are 
numerous lakes, several of which are of sufficient size to afford consid¬ 
erable natural storage and to serve as regulators of the flow of the 
river and its tributaries. Of these the largest is Lake Tahoe, with 
an area of 193 square miles. Four others are of interest in this con- 





















































TRUCKEE-CAKSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


21 


iiection, because of their possible enlargement as reservoir sites. 
These are AVebber Lake, area 220 acres, Independence Lake, area 700 
acres, Donner Lake, area 840 acres, and AA^ashoe Lake, area 3,500 
acres. 

Reservoirs ,—^Many possible reservoir sites exist on the watershed 
above Vista, Nev. These vary widely in capacity and in cost of 
development, some sites involving merely the enlargement of the 
storage capacity of the lakes mentioned above, others the construc¬ 
tion of artificial reservoirs. Of all the possible sites upon the water¬ 
shed the following 12 are believed to be feasible of construction, 
namely: AVebber Lake, Little Truckee No. 1, Henness Pass, Inde¬ 
pendence Lake, Twin Valley, Euers Valley, Donner Lake, Squaw 
Valley, Dog Valley, Lake Tahoe, Lake AVashoe, and Little Valley. 
AVith the exception of Euers Valley and Lake AVashoe and Little 
Valley all the above sites have been recommended for construction by 
the Reclamation Service for the benefit of the Truckee-Carson Recla¬ 
mation project. Description of these sites may be found in Abater 
Supply Paper No. 68, 1902, page 40, of the United States Geological 
Survey, from which the greater part of the data contained in the 
pages immediately following have been taken. 

A field examination was made of all the above-named sites with the 
exception of Henness Pass, Squaw Valley, and Dog Valley. The last 
two are of only minor importance because of their small capacity, 
and the last one has not been considered in estimating the probable 
flow available at Vista, Nev. The examination of the sites in ques¬ 
tion has led to the conclusion that, as far as physical features are 
concerned, the capacity of several of these sites can be largely in¬ 
creased over the estimate given in AA^ater Supply Paper No. 68. The 
run-off studies made in this report show that there is sufficient water 
for these increased capacities and that in every instance during the 
seven years for which the studies have been made, even with the in¬ 
creased capacities, water would have been wasted annually over the 
dams in amounts varying from 4 per cent to 480 per cent of the 
average amounts made available by storage. 

AVRether in any particular instance the additional power derived 
from storage of water in several reservoirs would warrant the expense 
of their construction, is a question that could be decided only by care¬ 
ful studies based on surveys, not only of reservoir sites, but also of 
conduit lines, power-house locations, etc., and on detailed cost esti¬ 
mates of all the features involved, studies that are obviously beyond 
the province of this report. 

In the following pages will be given a brief description of the 
several possible sites together with maps of surveys and diagrams of 
storage capacity: 

AYehber Lake. —Location: According to the surveys of the United 
States Geological Survey this reservoir site is located in secs. 21, 28, 
29, 32, and 33, T. 19 N., R. 14 E., M. D. M. The Land Office map 
shows that the lake lies almost entirely within sec. 28, with a small 
portion only in sec. 21. 

Status of land: The only public lands in the immediate vicinity 
of the reservoir site are the NE. J SE. \ and SE. J SE. J of sec. 28 
and SAA^. J SE. \ sec. 32. These areas are at too high an elevation to 
be flooded except in small part by the construction of the reservoir. 
All the remaining lands in secs. 28 and 32 and all land in sec. 20 that 


22 


TEUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


could be affected by the construction of the reservoir are “ patented,” 
v hile all of secs. 21, 27, 29, and 33 are “ railroad selection approved.” 

Eeclamation withdrawals: The following lands in the vicinity of 
Webber Lake were withdrawn by the Eeclamation Service “ under 
first form ” on October 13, 1908: 

T. 19 N., R. 14 E., M. D. M.; sec. 20, E. 1 SE. 1; sec. 21, S. i; sec. 27, W. 1 
NW. i; sec. 28, entire; sec. 29, E. sec. 32, E. ^ NW. 1, NE. 1, SE. 1; see. 33, 
NW. h W. I NE. h SW. h 



Maps and diagrams: Diagram No. 3 presents a contour map of the 
proposed site, based upon a similar map presented on page 41 of 
Water Supply Paper No. 68 of the United States Geological Survey. 
On page 23 will be found a profile of the dam site, also from the 
above paper, and a diagram of capacities based upon the map con¬ 
tained herein. 

Dam: All the estimates made by Mr. Taylor for the United States 
Geological Survey (see Water Supply Paper No. 68) for reservoirs 
























TEUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


23 


on the Truckee watershed contemplated the construction of earth 
dams of low elevation protected on the interior by riprap and with¬ 
out core walls. To raise the water on this site to the 6,795 contour 
would require a dam approximately 40 feet in extreme height and 
1,800 feet in length. Such a dam is perfectly feasible of construc¬ 
tion. The only question, as stated above, from the point of view of 
the development of power, is the economic one, whether the probable 

A/0 4- 

or /fES£Bt' 0 //t DAM SITE 

r/roAf tv.s. rAFE/f a/o. 68, us e s. 




Feet 

6T9J 

ST90 

C78S 

srao 

67 75 
6770 
6765 
6760 



























































































































































































































































































7^ 





















‘ ^ 8-5 iQQQp " '■* ISOOO '* '* ZOOOO) 

S/ora^s Capoci/y /o Acre reef. 


D/AG/f^Af A/O.S 

cu/fyr or sro/fAGE CAPAc/ry 
or 

(yEBBEP LA EE BESERVO/R 
AT 

MAR/OGS EL£yAr/0//S OF iVATE/t SURFACE 


A/o/s.'~ Oof fee/ /me sAetys approximate capacity tor et fixations 
sAotrn 6y c/o/fee/ contours on Oio^ram A/o.3 pa^C <^7 


\ro ACCOptRAA/y REyoptT OF O.C.AAERRtLL TO THE FORESTER SEP. 20./9O9. 

returns from sale of power justify the cost of the works, and can not 
be discussed here. These same remarks will apply to all succeeding 
dams and reservoirs, . 

Area and storage capacity: The surface area of this reservoir at 
the high-water mark is estimated to be about 1,100 acres, of which 
about 11 acres would be on national forest land. Diagram No. 5 
shows the storage capacity of the proposed reservoir at all levels 
between the contours 6,775 and 6,795. The capacity at the high-water 

































































24 


TRUCKEE-CAPtSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


mark is approximately 20,000 acre-feet, and that figure has been used 
in the subsequent estimates of power. 

Little Truckee Reservoir No. 1. —Location: This reservoir, desig¬ 
nated as above by Mr. Taylor, is situated in secs. 23, 24, 25, and 
26, T. 19 N., R. 14 E., and in secs. 16, 17, 20, and 21, T. 19 N., 
R. 15 E., M. D. M. This site was surveyed in 1889-90 by the United 



States Geological Survey and is described as follows in Water SuddIv 
Paper No. 68: 

It occupies a valley of irregular width extending about 3 miles up from a 
narrow canyon, through which the stream flows, and where it is proposed to 
construct the impounding dams. * * * 

The survey which was made during 1889-90 consisted of the measurement of 
a cross section of the canyon at the dam site, the meandering of a contour 60 
feet above the base of the proposed dam, and the measurement of several cross 
sections of the valley below this contour * * *. An examination of the site 























TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


25 


made in 1900 demonstrated the feasibility and economy of raising the water 18 
feet higher than was contemplated by the earlier survey by constructing the 
dam a little farther down the canyon and raising it to a height of 87 feet. 
A contour map of the dam site as now proposed is shown in figure 13. (Repro¬ 
duced in diagram No. 6, p. 24.) 

Status of land: The only Government lands in T. 19 N., R. 15 E., 
that might be involved in the construction of this reservoir are the 

/V'tJ. 7 . 

or CAr/ic/r/£rs or urrcr 'rrocrrr a/o./ 

Ar rAry/AAG rteyAr/ors or maatra ^st/rrAcr 



TO AccoMRA/vy rrrorr or O.c. msaaill to th^ roresrcr sar. zo. /sos. 

N. i NE. i sec. 20 and the S. i NW. J sec. 16. The latter is desig¬ 
nated as “ State selection unapproved.” In sec. 24, T. 19 N., R. 14 E., 
the NE. i, NW. i, and SW. i are Government land, and portions of 
both the NE. J and SW. i would probably be flooded by a reservoir. 
The remaining lands are school,” sec. 16, T. 19 N., R. 15 E. j rail- 















































































































26 


THUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


road selection approved,” secs. 17 and 21, T. 19 N., K. 15 E., and 
secs. 23 and 25, T. 19 N., R. 14 E.; “ patented,” portions of sec. 20, 
T. 19 N., R. 15 E., and all of secs. 24 and 26, T. 19 N., R. 14 E; and 
“ cash entry,” NW. J sec. 26, T. 19 N., R. 14 E., M. D. M. 



HSAZ/VSSS /’/tSS HESEffyom SITE 
E'ROM IV.S.Pi^PE/f /V0.68.US.6.S. 



E/rOM lY. S. /=>/IEE/f //O.gQ, t/.S.G,S, 

T-G EEEOET OE O. C. ME/fR/LL TO THE /rO/?EETE/? SEP., Z0,/S09. 


Reclamation withdrawals: The following lands were withdrawn 
by the Reclamation Service “ under first form ” October 13,1908: 


entire; sec. 25, entire; 

sec. 26, entire. 

T. 19 N., R. 15 E., AI. D. AI.: Sec. 16, entire; sec. 17, entire; sec. 20, N. ^ 
NE. h N. ^ NW. i ; sec. 21, N. ^ NE. i, N. ^ NW. h ^ 



















TRUCKEE-CAKSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


27 


Maps and diagrams: On pages 24 and 25 may be found a rough 
contour map of the proposed reservoir site, a contour map of the 
dam site, and a diagram of storage capacities. These maps are based 
on similar ones in Water Supply Paper No. 68, but extended to pro¬ 
vide for the large capacities believed to be feasible. 

Dam: A dam necessary to produce the capacit}^ estimated upon 
would be approximately ilO feet in maximum height and 640 feet in 
maximum length. 

Area and storage capacity: The area of the proposed reservoir at 
the high-water line would be approximately 1,095 acres, of which 
about 102 acres would be on national-forest land. 

Diagram No. 7, page 25, shows the storage capacity of the reser¬ 
voir at varying elevations of water surface. The capacity assumed 
for the estimate of the power in the succeeding pages is 60,000 acre- 
feet. 

Henness Pass reservoir site. —Location: As shown on the accom¬ 
panying map, this reservoir is located in secs. 7, 8, 17, 18, 19, and 20, 
T. 19 N., E. 16 E., M. D. M. 

This reservoir site occupies a small basin immediately to the north of the 
valley of the Little Truckee River, opposite the hmction of that stream and 
Independence Creek, from which it is separated by a narrow rocky ridge. 
About 200 acres of the floor of this basin are perfectly level, somewhat marshy 
in character, and on the west and south are bounded by the narrow ridge 
mentioned, which rises from it abruptly, while to the north and east the ground 
rises very gradually. The elevaton is about 6,367 feet above sea level. The 
immediate drainage area consists of 4^ square miles of undulating ridges almost 
bare of timber. The main water supply for the reservoir will be drawn from 
Little Truckee River by means of a canal about 4 miles in length, having a 
capacity of 100 cubic feet per second, heading a short distance below the dam for 
Little Truckee Reservoir, last described. (Water Supply Paper No. 68, p. 66.) 

Status of land: The Land Office map shows the entire area in¬ 
cluded within this reservoir site to be either “ patented ” or “ railroad 
selection approved.” In the latter classification it is all of secs. 7, 
17,18, and 19; in the former all the land affected in secs. 8,19, and 20. 

Eeclamation withdrawals: The following withdrawals were made 
“ under first form ” October 13, 1908, by the Eeclamation Service: 

T. 19 N., R. 16 E., M. D. M .: Sec. 7, entire; sec. 8, entire; sec. 17, entire; sec. 
18, entire; sec. 20, NW. i. 

Maps and diagrams: On page 26 is given a copy of a map of the 
reservoir and dam site as presented in Water Supply Paper No. 68. 

Dam: “ The dam site * * * is in the canyon leading out of the valley 

of the Little Truckee River; maximum height of the dam will be 56 feet, its 
length on top 720 feet, and its top width 24 feet. It will be of earth of the 
hydraulic-fill type * * The material for the structure is a clayey earth 

containing some gravel, cobbles, and bowlders.” (Water Supply Paper No. 68, 
p. 67.) 

Area and storage capacity: The area of the reservoir at the high- 
water level is estimated to be 590 acres, none of which would be on 
public land. However, somewhat more than one-half mile of the 
canal proposed for bringing the water to this site from the Little 
•Truckee Eiver would be on national forest land. 

This reservoir site was surveyed by D. K. Stewart for Hon; Francis G. New- 
lands in 1890, a contour 50 feet above the floor being meandered and a few 
cross sections of the basin measured, from which data the area and capacity 


28 


THUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


were computtKl. * * * The elevation of the floor of the canyon at the dam 

site is taken at G,360 feet above sea level * * *. The estimated capacity is 

17,000 acre-feet. 

Lake Independence reservoir site. —Location: This reservoir site is 
located in secs. 33, 34, and 36, T. 19 N., R. 15 E., M. D. M., and in 
secs. 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 9, T. 18 N., R. 15 E., M. D. M. 

Independence Lake is * * * of glacial origin, immediately under the 

Sierra’s crest, and held lengthwise between high precipitous spurs projecting 
at right angles to it * * *. Its ordinary water surface is about 2^ miles in 

length, somewhat less than a half mile in width, and covers an area of 709 
acres. It is about 7,000 feet above sea level. 

A survey for a storage reservoir was made at the site in 1889 * * *. The 

margin of the lake and a contour 25 feet above were meandered, and a number 
of cross sections of the valley w'ere measured, supplying the data from which the 
area and capacity of the reservoir were computed. (Water Supply Paper No. 
68, p. 56.) 

Status of land: The only Government land that may be flooded by 
the construction of this reservoir is in the SW. i NW. and NE. J 
NW. J, sec. 4; and S. i NE. i and SE. J NW. h sec. 8, T. 18 N., K. 
15 E., M. D. M. A small area, with status undetermined, in the SW. 
i NE. J sec. 4, T. 18 N., K. 15 E., would be flooded by the construc¬ 
tion of this reservoir and also the greater part of the N. J NE. J sec. 
8, in the same township, designated as ‘‘ State selection unapproved.” 
The remaining lands involved, in secs. 34, T. 17 N., R. 15 E. and 
secs. 2 and 4, T. 18 N., R. 15 E., are “ patented,” while secs. 33 and 
35, T. 19 N., R. 15 E., and secs. 3, 5, and 9, T. 18 N., R. 15 E., are 
‘‘ railroad selection approved.” 

Reclamation withdrawals: On October 13, 1908, “ under first 
form,” the Reclamation Service withdrew the following lands: 

T. 18 N., R. 15 E., M. D. M.: Sec. 2, NW. 1; sec. 3, entire; sec. 4, entire; 
sec. 5, SE. i ; sec. 8, NE. h N. 1 SE. i; sec. 9, W. i NE. h NW. i, N. h SW. h 
NW. 4 SE. I 

T. 19 N., R. 15 E., M. D. M.: Sec. 33, SE. i ; sec. 34, entire; sec. 35, entire. 

Maps and diagrams: On page 29 may be found a contour map 
of this site adapted from a similar map in Water Supply Paper No. 
68, United States Geological Survey, and on page 30 diagrams show¬ 
ing a profile of the proposed dam site and a curve of reservoir capaci¬ 
ties at various elevations of water surface taken from data contained 
in the above-named report. 

Dam: It has been proposed to build an earth dam at a point about 
1,800 feet below the present outlet of the lake, where the bed of the 
stream is about 12 feet below the lake level and where an old ter¬ 
minal moraine forms a natural dam for a portion of the cross sec¬ 
tion. To raise the level of the lake to the 7014 contour would re¬ 
quire a dam approximately 30 feet in height above the stream bed 
and 960 feet in length along the crest. 

Area and storage capacity: The estimated area of water surface 
at contour 7014 is 995 acres, of which approximately 40 acres would 
be on national forest land. 

Though earlier studies made by Mr. Taylor and published in 
Water Supply Paper No. 68 led him to conclude that the run-off 
of the watershed would not be sufficient to fill the reservoir above the 
7010 contour, the studies herein contained, based upon much longer 


TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


29 


records than were available to Mr. Taylor, indicate that the yield 
of the watershed would be sufficient, through a series of years, to 
warrant estimates upon the basis of filling the reservoir to the 7014 
contour. The excavation of the present outlet channel, allowing 



of lowering the lake level 5 feet below the present low-water line, 
would afford a maximum storage capacity between extreme levels of 
about 15,000 acre-feet, and this amount has been used in making 
power estimates for this report. 







30 


TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


Twin Valley reservoir site. —Location: This site is located in secs. 
13, 14, 23, 24, and 25, T. 18 N., E. 15 E., and secs. 19 and 30, T. 18. 
N., E. 16 E., M. D. M. 

This reservoir is on the North Fork of Prosser Creek, one of the main 
branches of the Truckee River, about 4 miles in a direct line, a little east of 
south of Independence Lake and at an approximate altitude of 6,300 feet 
above sea level 


O/AGR/IM A/o.// 

P/iOr-/C£ or PPOPOSEO OAAi S/TE , L/IEE /A/0£P£A/0EA/CE 


FC^ 



D/^GPAPf A/o. /2 



TO ACCOA/PAA/Y PEPOPT OP O. C. A/EAP/Cl TO THE PORESTEP SEP., 20, /909. 


A survey of the reservoir site was made during the fiscal year 1889-90, a 
cross section of the dam site being measured, a contour 30 feet above the lowest 
point at the dam site meandered, and several cross sections of the reservoir 
surveyed to supply data for calculating the capacity. (Water Supply Paper 
No. 68, p. 59.) 

Status of land: Three forties of public land in sec. 24, T. 18 N., 
K. 15 E., namely, SE. \ NE. I, NE. J NW. I, and SW. i SE. i, would 




























































TAHOE PROJECT. 


31 


N 

TR U C KEE-C ARSO N -LAKE 


probably be flooded in part by the construction of this reservoir. 
The remaining land affected in secs. 11 and 24, T. 18 N., E. 15 E., 
and in sec. 30, T. 18 X., R. 16 E., are “ patented,” while secs. 13, 23, 
and 25, T. 18 N., R 15 E., and sec. 19, T. 18 N., R. 16 E., are “ railroad 
selection approved.” 



TO /refo/tr or o c. Afrrr/LL re the rorEsrE/f see., zo, / 903. 


Reclamation withdrawals: The Reclamation Service withdrawals 
of October 13, 1908, “ under first form,” on this site, are as follows: 


T. 18 N., R. 15 
23, A’E. 1; sec. 24, 
T. 18 N., R. 16 
NW. \ NW. h 


E., M. D. M.: Sec. 13, S. \ SW. \; sec. 14, 
entire; sec. 25, N. \ NE. 

E., M. D. M.: Sec. 19, SW. 1 NW. h W. i 


S. i SE. 1; sec. 
SW. i; sec. 30, 































32 


TliUCKEE-CAliSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


Maps and diagrams: On pages 31 and 32 are given contour maps 
of the reservoir and dam sites, adapted from similar maps in Water 
Supply Paper No. 68, and a diagram of storage capacities at various 
elevations of water surface. 

Dam : The dam site is in a narrow place in the valley, which has been par¬ 
tially closed by an ancient glacial moraine between which and the high granite 

A/o./S 

coAfye: or CAPAC/r/rs or ^'Alley resePYoiP stre 

AT 

YAPY/f/G £L£YAT/G/YS of YYATCP SUP FAC FS 
FPCM pecopos /A! ly.S. pa per /Ye. 68, /90Z , U.S.G.S. 


>0 

M 



TO ACCOA//=’P/YF PPPOPT or o. C. MFPP/LL TO T/YF rOPSSTFfY SFP., 20, /^09. 


ridge to the southwest the creek flows. It is proposed to raise this moraine 
somewhat and to dam the gorge now occupied by the stream by means of an 
earth embankment to be put in place by scrapers. The maximum height of 
the embankment would be 55 feet and the top length over all 7(10 feet. (Water 
Supply Paper No. US, i>. 00.) 

This site Avas carefully examined and measured during the field 
examinatioii of August 19-21, 1909, and it is believed that the site 
is so favorable that a dam considerably higher than the one proposed 



















































































TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE. PROJECT. 


33 


by Mr. Taylor could be constructed at this location. Estimates have, 
therefore, been made upon a dam 78 feet in height, raising the water 
level to contour 6290. (Elevation estimated by aneroid barometer, 
see note, Diagram No. 15, p. 32.) Such a dam would be approxi¬ 
mately 1,000 feet in length. Outlet works are assumed to be at ele¬ 
vation 6265, since tlie storage capacity below that level is only about 
1,000 acre-feet. (See diagram No. 15, p. 32.) 

Area and storage capacity: The estimated area of water surface 
at the high-water mark is 475 acres, of which approximately 30 acres 
would be on public land. 

The estimated maximum storage capacity for this reservoir, as 
shown on Diagram No. 15, page 32, is 27,000 acre-feet. 

Euers Valley reservoir site. —Location: This site is located on the 
South Fork of Prosser Creek. No surveys have been made for a res¬ 
ervoir at the location and the feasibility of its construction is, there¬ 
fore, not certain. If constructed it would probably flood portions of 
secs. 25, 26, 35, and 36, T. 18 N., R. 15 E., M. D. M. 

Status of land: No Government land would be involved, as the 
overflowed portions of sec. 26 would be “ patented ” land; all of sec. 
36 “school” land; and all of secs. 25 and 35 “railroad selection 
approved.” 

Reclamation withdrawals: No reclamation withdrawals, as far as 
is known, have been made on this site. 

Maps and diagrams: Since no surveys of this site have been made 
no data are at hand for the preparation of maps or diagrams. 

Dam: A good location for a dam is afforded in SE. J sec. 25, where 
the canyon narrows and the stream begins to drop rapidly to join the 
North Fork at about a half mile below the proposed dam site. The 
valley floor is comparatively level for a distance of to 2 miles 
and is approximately one-half mile in extreme width. 

Storage capacity: In the absence of surveys of the site no reliable 
estimates of storage capacities can be made. A capacity of 2,000 
acre-feet has, however, been assumed for this reservoir. The quan¬ 
tity is, however, so small relatively that any error in this assumption 
will have very little effect upon the final results. 

Donner Lake reservoir site. —Location: This reservoir site is located 
in secs. 12, 13, 14, and 15, T. 17 N., R. 15 E., M. D. M., and in secs. 7, 
17, and 18, T. 17 N., R. 16 E., M. D. M. 

Donner Lake * * * occupies a glacial basin lying close under the crest 

of the main Sierra Nevadas and lengthwise between two spurs which jut 
eastward therefrom. Its ordinary water surface is almost 3 miles long, with 
a nearly uniform width of approximately a half mile. * * * It is about 

3 miles west of the town of Truckee and immediately north of and below the 
line of the Central Pacific Railroad * * *. 

The old glacial basin of Donner Lake extends eastward as a valley about 
1| miles beyond the limits of the lake, thence its outlet is to the south through 
a gap in a granite ridge into Truckee River Valley. Cold Creek, flowing in 
from the south, joins Donner Creek * * * about three-fourths of a mile 

east of the lower end of the lake.” (Water Supply Paper No. 68, p. 51.) 

Status of land: The only public land which would be affected by 
the construction of this reserv^oir is in the S. ^ SE. J sec. 12, T. 17 
N., R. 15 E., designated on the Land Office plats as “ State selection 
unapproved.” All the remaining lands are either “ patented,” 
“State selection approved,” or “railroad selection approved.” 

23914°—H. Doc. 451, 62-2-3 


34 


TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


Keclamation withdrawals: The following* lands Avere withdrawn 
October 13, 1908, “under first form,” by the Eeclamation Service: 

T. 17 N., R. 15 E., M. D. M.: Sec. 12, S. 1, SE. 1; sec. 18, entire; sec. 14, 
entire; sec. 15, entire. 

T. 17 N., R. 16 E., N. D. M.: Sec. 7, S. 1, SAY. 1; sec. 17, entire; sec. 18, 
entire. 





Aj 

c 




I 

N 

<0 


«I 




. 

U 


i * 


I 

<5; 

V. 

k 

I 

I 

v» 


Maps and diagrams: On pages 34 and 35 will be found a contour 
map of the reservoir site and a profile of the proposed dam site, both 
adapted from similar maps in AVater Supply Paper No. G8. A dia¬ 
gram is also giyen (see p. 35), shoAving the storage capacity of the 
reservoir at various elevations of Avater surface. 

Dam: Tlie project for the utilization of Donner Lake P>asin for a reservoir 
conteini)lates the construction of a long, low dam following an ancient terminal 
moraine nearly half a mile from the lower end of the lake, and impounding 






































TIIUCKEE-CAKSON-LAKE TAEIOE PROJECT. 


35 


not only tlie surplus water of the Doniier Luke watershed, but those of the 
Cold Creek drainage basin also, by leading them into the reservoir by means 
of a canal about 3,000 feet in length * * * Several years ago lion. Francis 

C. Xewlands had constructed across Donner Creek, a few hundred yards below 
tlie lake, a timber dam of sufficient height to raise the water 10 or 11 feet 
above the low-water plane. This structure was not kept in repair, however, 
and it is now in a condition only to retain the water to a height of Oi to 7 feet. 


K 

I 


15! 


I 

‘u 

'r 

>4 

I 

Q 

k 

k 

k 


<0 

Vi 

*0 

5' 

I 


I 

-I 

I 




§ 

“1 

<0 

I 

i*j 

s 

vj 

S 

0 

Vi 

I 

I 

v: 

V; 

V; 


* * * It will be necessary to build an earth dam or embankment along 

the crest of the ancient glacial moraine previously referred to, for a total length 
of 2,030 feet and a maximum height of 38 feet ift the narrow gap through 
which Donner Creek flows. (Water Supply Paper No. 08, p. 51.) 


In view of the large rnn-oIT of the combined basins of Donner 
and Cold Creeks and the conipai'atively low dam which would be re- 
(piired at ail places except in the narrow gap above mentioned, it is 










































































































36 


TEUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


believed that it will be perfectly feasible, and advisable from the 
point of view of power development, to increase the height of the 
dam 8 feet above that proposed by Mr. Taylor, making a total height 
of 46 feet above the lowest point in the stream bed and giving an 
estimated length, along the crest, of approximately 3,200 feet. 



or 


yALLEr rEssrro/r dam s/t£ 
rroM w. s. PAPsr a/o. es, c/.3.o.s 


TO ylCCOy^PAA/y PEPOPr or o c.mepp/ll to the rOPCSTEp SEP. So, 1909. 

Area and storage capacity: The maximum area of water surface 
tor this reservoir is estimated at 1,670 acres, of which only about 6 
acres would be on publjc land. 

Diagram No. 18, page 35, shows the approximate capacity of the 
proposed reservoir between the 6,095 and the 6,1,35 contour For 
the purpose of this report the high-water level has been taken at 
contour 0,13o, and the maximum storage capacity as 47,000 acre-feet 

Squaw Valley reservoir Location: This site is located on 

bquaw Creek, a tributary entering the Truckee Eiver about C mile« 














TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 37 

below the outlet of Lake Tahoe. The site is situated in sections 28, 
29, and 32, T. 1(3 N., R. 16 E., M. D. M. 

Status of land : The NIV. i NW. -J, S. ^ NW. i, SW. i and SE. i 
sec. 32, are public land, but it is doubtful if any of this would be 
flooded by the construction of a reservoir at this site. The NW. J 
NW. i sec. 32 is a Forest Service ranger station. The remainder of 
the land in section 32 and all of section 28 are “ patented,” and section 
29 is “ railroad selection approved.” 

Reclamation withdrawals: The following lands on the site were 
withdrawn by the Reclamation Service, “ under first form,” October 
13, 1908: 

T. 16 N., R. 16 E., M. D. M.: Sec. 28, NW. h SW. i; sec. 29, NE. h S. ^ SW. h 
SE. 1; sec. 32, NE. h NW. h N. i SW. i, N. ^ SE. i; sec. 33, NW. h 

Maps and diagrams: On page 36 is shown an outline map of the 
proposed reservoir site as given in Water Supply Paper No. 68, to¬ 
gether with a contour map of dam site, also from the same source. 

Area and storage capacity: The area of the reservoir surface, as 
shown on the map (Diagram No. 19, p. 36), is estimated as 56 acres, 
none of which is on public land. 

Mr. Taylor, in Water Supply Paper No. 68, says of this site: 

The Squaw Valley site, although calling for but a nominal outlay for con¬ 
struction, will, by reason of its small capacity, involve too great an expense, 
relatively * * * to justify its inclusion in a general water-storage project. 

The site has, however, been included in this report as possibly being 
of value in increasing the low-water flow of that portion of the 
Truckee River between the outlet of Lake Tahoe and Floriston to the 
extent shown on Diagram No. 31 appended to this report. The 
storage capacity for the area shown on the map is probably not more 
than 500 acre-feet. 

Dog Valley reservoir site, —^Location: This reservoir site is located 
in secs. 24 and *25, T. 20 N., R. IT E. and in secs. 30 and 31, T. 20 N., 
R. 18 E., M. D. M. 

This reservoir site * * * occupies a small valley situated between out¬ 

lying spurs of the Sierra Nevada just west of the boundary line betwecm Cali¬ 
fornia and Nevada, and about 4 miles northwest of the town of Verdi, Nev. 
The elevation is about 5,700 feet above sea level. The cachment basin comprises 
16 square miles, ranging in altitude from that of the reservoir to 8,500 feet, 
most of which is covered with pine and fir timber and is quite precipitous. This 
site was surveyed by the writer in 1895, topography of the lower portion of the 
valley being taken by means of transit and stadia and the contours plotted. 
(Water Supply Paper No. 68, p. 69.) 

Status of land: All the lands included in this site and within T. 20 
N., R. 17 E., M. D. M., are “ patented.” The status of the land on 
this site and within T. 20 N., R. 18 E., M. D. M., is unknown. 

Reclamation withdrawals: On October 13, 1908, the Reclamation 
Service, “ under first form,” withdrew the following lands on this 
reservoir site: 

T 20 N., R. 17 E., M. D. M.: Sec. 24, S. i NE. |, S. i NW. |, SW. |, SE. 1; 
sec. 25, NE. h NW. h N. i SW. 1. 

T. 20 N., R. 18 E., M. D. M.: Sec. 30, N. i NW. h SW. i ; sec. 31, NW. 1. 

Maps and diagrams: On page 38 is given a contour map of the pro¬ 
posed reservoir site, copied from a similar map in Water Supply 
Paper No. 68, as is also the profile of the dam site given in Diagram 


88 


TTIUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


No. 22, pag’c 39. Diajrram No. 23, ]rd^G 39, gives the curve of 
capacities of the reservoir plotted from data contained in the above 
re2)ort. 

Dam : A cross section of the outlet canyon iininediately below the valley at 
what appeared to be the most favorable site for a dam was also measured, and 
it was found that by the construction of a dam to a maximum height of 05 feet 


T. 20 N. R.IT E. M O.M. 



CO A/TOUR M/iR 

or 

DOG UALLCy RESCRyo/R" S/TE 
adapted r/fOfif AfAR /A/ tv.s. RARER A/t>. 68,U.S.G.S. 

AAoAe' - Cr-oss hafched o/~^cr And/cates pub/ic Jand- 

SAafus of Sec 30 and 3/, T.20R., R./8E., MOM unAno^'rt 
Contours represent e/era t/on's a bore stream bed at dam site 
A^ea at contour 60^ 70 acres, 

TO ACCOMRAf/y RERORV OR C.C. MERRtLL. TO TRE jRORESrRR SER. EO /90S. 

with top length of 235 feet a reservoir having a surface area of 274 acres 
* * * would be created. (Water Supply Paper No. 08, p. 09.) 

Area and storage capacit}^: As stated in the previous paragraph, 
the maximum area of water surface on this reservoir Avould be 274 
acres, none of which would be on public land. 

The above report gives the storage capacity of the reservoir Avith a 
G5-foot dam as 5,785 acre-feet. Diagram No. 23, page 39, shows that 
a comparatively slight increase in the height of the dam Avould make 















TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


39 


a large increase in the capacity of the dam. For the purpose of this 
report, however, tlie capacity has been taken at only 6,000 acre-feet. 

Lake Tahoe Reservoir site. —Location: Lake Tahoe is located within 
the southern angle of the Truckee River watershed, about two-thirds 
of its area being in the State of California and the remaining one- 
third in the State of Nevada. Its maximum length is 21^ miles, its 
extreme width 12 miles, and its surface area 193 square miles. The 




3 . 






Z 


50 


100 

o/srAuces 


A/0.22 

/^/?or/L£ s/r£, oog ££S££yo//r 

iv.s. EEES/r /Vo. 6d t/.S.G.S. 



TO ACCOEtEAr/y ESEOET OE O C. MEEEILL TO THE EOEESTEE SEE. 20. /SOS. 

tributary watershed, including its own area, is about 520 square miles. 
The lake lies mainly within townships 13, 14, 15, and 16 north and 
ranges 17 and 18 east, as shown on the status map appended to this 
report. 

Status of land: Since all lands bordering upon the lake are reported 
to be in private ownership, with the exception of the small area near 
the outlet purchased by the United States Government from the 
Donner Lumber & Boom Co., it has not been considered necessary to 





















































































40 


TRUCKEE-CABSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


show the status of all these lands, and hence a part only appear upon 
the general map. 

Eeclamation withdrawals: A telegram from Mr. Thomas IL Means, 
engineer of the Truckee-Carson reclamation project, in answer to an 



A/o. 2^. 

Ot/rL/A/E Af/IP 
or 

LAKE TAHOE STORAGE PESEElTO/P 
FHOM yy.s. EAPEE Afo.68, O.S.GS. 


ro ACCOMPAHT PEPOPT OF O.C. MEPPtLL TO THE POP ESTEP SEP. 1^0^900. 

inquiry regarding the reclamation withdrawals on the Truckee Eiver 
watershed, states that no withdrawals have been made around Lake 
Tahoe except a strip across the mountains east from the point where 


































































TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE, PROJECT. 41 

^le State line leaves the south end of the lake. (Means, 7-29-09.) 
JNo more definite location of this area is known, but as far as the 
present report is concerned this withdrawal is not believed to affect 
the proposed Truckee River General Electric Co.-Reclamation Service 
agreement. 

//0.2S 

coA/rci//? 

or 

LAr£ TAf/0£ ££SE£^OJff DAM 3/T£ 
rrOM tvs. PAF££ No. 68, U.S.G.3. 




ro A ccoMPANK pcpoffr or o c. Msrr/iL to the roff£sr£P 3£P.,zo,/9os. 

Maps and diagrams: On pages 40 and 41 are given an outline map 
of Lake Tahoe and a contour map of the dam site at the outlet, both 
copied from Water Supply Paper No. 68, United States Geological 
Survey; also a diagram of the storage capacity of the lake at eleva¬ 
tions of water surface between 6,224 and 6,230. 

Old dam: About the year 1870 the Donner Lumber Boom Co., 
under authority of a special act of the State legislature approved 
April 4, 1870, (see p. 8), constructed a crib dam of timber and stone 

























42 


TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


across the Trnckee River about 500 feet from the shore of the lake. 
As stated previously in this report (see p. 9), it is unknown how long 
the dam was used for the purposes mentioned in the act, but it has 
been used continuously to date to regulate the flow from Lake Tahoe. 

This dam had “ three openings, with 10.7, 10.5, and 9.3 feet clear 
width, closed by timber gates * * *. The dam has also a waste¬ 

way of 72 feet clear length and 6 feet above the floor of the gates.” 
(Water Supply Paper No. 68, p. 43.) 

Fluctuations in lake level: Mr. Taylor states that at the time of his 
survey, July 19, 1889, the lake surface was 5.05 feet below the waste¬ 
way crest, and that the water fell later in the season 1.2 feet farther, 
making the minimum level 6.25 feet below the crest of the spillway. 
The floor of the gates are 6 feet below the spillway crest, hence the 
dam was constructed to a height 1 foot in excess of that allowed 
under the terms of the act granting the franchise. 

The gates of the dam have proved too small to properly control the 
water, and at several times the lake level has risen above the spill¬ 
way crest. On July 3, 1895, the water was 0.90 feet above the spill¬ 
way, though the gates were delivering more than 1,100 cubic feet 
per second. (AYater Supply Paper No. 68, p. 45.) Diagram No. 29 
appended to this report gives the record of the fluctuations in the 
level of this lake from November, 1900, to December, 1908, inclusive. 
Three times during this period, namely in June, 1904, August, 1906, 
and June, 1907, the lake level rose above the height of the spillway, 
at the last-named date apparently from 2 to 3 feet. 

To free themselves from liability to damage by sudden high water,, 
which the gates would not have the capacity to pass, the company has 
often unnecessarily drawn down the lake level and occasionally to 
such a degree as to leave in storage an amount insufficient for the 
operation of their several power plants during the fall and winter 
months. The necessity for a new dam, with larger outlets more 
readily controlled, has, therefore, long been obvious. 

New dam: At the present Avriting the company, under plans pre¬ 
pared by the Reclamation Service, is reconstructing their dam at the 
outlet, replacing the old wooden structure with a concrete dam haAung 
iron gates, similar to the dam and gates at the head of the Truckee- 
Carson Canal at Clarks Station. This dam presumably will be of 
such a height as to maintain the lake at the le\^el of the old spillway, 
but the far greater percentage of gate opening will allow of dis¬ 
charging a much greater volume of water than the old dam could 
pass. The channel between the dam and the lake is to be dredged, 
the island shown on the map is to be removed, and probably the floor 
of the gates will be lowered. A rim of rock is said to extend across 
the outlet and to serve to fix the limit below which the lake level 
can not be draAvn at the present outlet. No limit is placed, however, 
on the depth to which the lake can be drawn at the “ second diver¬ 
sion.” 

Storage capacity: Diagram No. 26, page 41, shows that the gross 
storage cai3acity betAveen the high and low Avater mark is 745,000 
acre-feet. The “ high-water mark ” is assumed to be at elevation 
6,230 (the elevation of the spillAvay of the old dam was 6,230.05) on 
the datum of Mr. Taylor’s survey of July 19, 1889 (see Water Sup- 
])ly Paper No. 68, p. 45) and the “ low-water mark,” at elevation 
6,224. 


TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


43 


It is believed that if the gates are handled with reasonable fore¬ 
sight these limits are sufficient to make available the entire yield of 
the watershed for all except years of extremely high run-olf. The 
storage capacity between the above levels is considerably in excess 
of the yield of the maximum year during the period of available 
records and more than twice the average yield for the same period. 
(See Table No. 6, p. 20.) Furthermore, any greater range in lake 
level would doubtless render the operator of the gates liable for 
damages for flooding private property if the level should go above 
the 6,230 contour; or for hindering navigation if the level should 
fall below the 6,224 contour. 

Since the future yield of this watershed can be forecasted only on 
the assumption that conditions which have held in the past are likely 
to obtain in the future, any estimate of the future available storage 
from Lake Tahoe must be based on a study of the records of previous 
years such as has been presented in Table No. 6, page 20. This 
table shows the average annual yield of this watershed to have been 
309,000 acre-feet for the period November, 1900, to December, 1908, 
inclusive. It is doubtful, however, if the yield of such a year as 
1907, with a run-off not far from the total storage capacity of the- 
lake, could be entirely utilized, particularly if such a year were pre¬ 
ceded, as was 1907, by a year such as 1906, which had a run-off con¬ 
siderably in excess of the average. It is probable that the hold¬ 
over storage from the year 1906 would have left insufficient capacity 
in the lake, even with well-directed control, to have made it possible 
to have stored all the surplus waters of 1907. Diagram No. 29, 
appended to this report, shows that under the actual control exercised 
the lake level was above the high-water mark for the entire period 
of March 20 to October 20, 1907, and consequently during all this 
period water was wasted. How much this waste was in excess of the 
requirements may be seen by an examination of curve 6 on the above- 
named diagram. It is, therefore, probable that the amount of water 
available year by year under w^ell-managed control w^ould be more 
nearly represented by an average of the seven years, 1901, 1902, 1903, 
1904, 1905, 1906, and 1908, namely, 260,000 acre-feet. 

Lake Washoe storage reservoir site. —Location: This site is located 
in Tps. 16 and 17 N., Rs. 19 and 20 E., M. D. M., directly east of the 
northern limits of Lake Tahoe and 6|^ miles distant from its eastern 
shore line. Washoe Lake occupies portions of secs. 1, 11, 12, 14, and 
24, T. 16 N., R. 19 E., and of secs. 7, 17, 18, 19, and 20, T. 16 N., 
R. 20 E., M. D. M. Its normal area is about 3,500 acres, though this 
is largely increased in times of high water by the flooding of the 
marshes to the northward. It has no well-defined outlet, the water 
normally seeping through the marshes and finally leaving the valley 
as Steamboat Creek through a gorge at the northern extremity of 
the valley. The valley floor is very flat and would probably be com¬ 
pletely flooded by a 20-foot rise in the level of the lake. The western 
side of the valley is devoted to stock and hay ranches, very little of 
the developed land requiring irrigation. The eastern side of the 
valley, which rises to a somewhat higher elevation, is covered with 
sage and requires irrigation for cultivation. 

Status of land: A small amount of public land is still left in the 
valley, as the map on page 44 will show. The following areas within 
the 15-foot contour appear as public land on the Land Office plats, 


44 


TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


namely, S. | NE. and N. J SE. J, sec. 35, T. 17 N., R. 19 E. The 
areas in sec. 35, T. 17 N., R. 19 E., are designated as “ State selection 
unapproved.” All the remaining lands are either “ patented ” or 
“ railroad selection approved.” 



ro /t£POffr of O C. TO T/f£ FO/r£^r£'/r S£F>., 20. /909, 

Reclamation withdrawals: No withdrawals have been made by the 
Reclamation Service in this valley, as far as is Imown. 

Maps and diagrams: Diagram No. 27 presents a map of the pro¬ 
posed Lake Washoe Reservoir copied from a similar map prepared 









































TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


45 


by the United States Reclamation Service and forwarded from 
Washington, together with several drafts of the “ agreement.” There 
is also presented below a capacity diagram of the reservoir, from the 
same source. 

Dam: A concrete dam with regulation gates is built across Steam¬ 
boat Creek just above the railroad bridge at the outlet of the valley. 


• I I I . ro <t> 

o-JO\r^orN>tn'4or«JOi-«40< 

Cn Cn u. U* cn ui • 










lOOOOOOOOO 
('2 3000 A.Ff) 


2000000000 
^6000 A.Ft) 


3000000000 
(69000 A. Ft./ 


4 000000000 . 
(92000 A.Ft.) 


5 000000COO 
(nSOOOA Ft-) 


6 000000000 . 
(138000 A. Ft) 


7 000000000 
(J6/000 A Ft) 

(/7460oAFtJ 


This is but a few feet in height and forms a small reservoir at the 
northern end of the valley whose waters, presumably, are used for 
irrigation in the Steamboat Valley below. A good site exists at this 
point for the construction of a dam of a height sufficient to cover 
practically the whole floor of the valley. No measurements were 
made to determine the probable length of the dam, but it would 
probably be about a hundred feet and could be constructed at mod¬ 
erate cost. 



















































46 


TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


Area and storage capacity: The run-ofF of the Lake Washoe drain¬ 
age basin serves only to maintain the level of the present lake and to 
supply the small overflow of Steamboat Creek. As a secondary 
storage reservoir, however, for the waters of Lake Tahoe drawn 
through the “ second diversion,” it could be developed, by raising the 
level 20 feet, to a total capacity of about 175,000 acre-feet. (See 
Diagram No. 28, p. 45.) A level 15 feet above the present lake sur¬ 
face giving a storage capacity of 125,000 acre-feet has been assumed 
for this report. The available capacity would, however, be consider¬ 
ably reduced by evaporation losses. The estimated area of the water 
surface if the water be raised 20 feet is about 12,500 acres. The esti¬ 
mated seasonable evaporation is 42 inches, entailing an annual loss 
in the reservoir, if the above level be maintained, of 43,700 acre-feet, 
and if the level be maintained at 15 feet above the present surface, a 
loss of 30,000 acre-feet. These evaporation losses will be in addition 
to the evaporation losses on Lake Tahoe, which are estimated at 32 
inches in depth over an area of 123,500 acres, or an annual loss of 
about 330,000 acre-feet. 

Little Valley Reservoir site. —^Location: This reservoir site is 
located on the watershed of Franktown Creek, the main tributary of 
Lake Washoe, and about 3 miles northeast of Crystal Bay, Lake 
Tahoe. As determined by aneroid barometer readings the creek bed 
is about 1,400 feet above Lake Washoe, or at an estimated elevation of 
6,430 feet. The site lies in secs. 17, 18, 19, and 20, T. 16 N., K. 19 E., 
M. D. M. The area of the tributary watershed is 14 square miles, 
varying in elevation from the level of the reservoir to about 9,000 
feet. 

Status of land: The Land Office plats show that the entire area of 
the reservoir site, as well as practically the entire watershed, are 
either “ patented ” or “ railroad selection approved.” 

Keclamation withdrawals: As far as is knoAvn, no land upon this 
watershed has been Avithdrawm by the Keclamation Service. 

Maps and diagrams—Area and storage capacity: No surveys have 
been made of this site and no data are at hand for the preparation of 
maps of the site or a diagram of storage capacities. The rainfall 
has been assumed to be the same as at Marlette Lake, but as only one 
year’s records are available at this station, only the merest assump¬ 
tions can be made of the probable yield of the watershed. Estimates 
based on Diagram No. 1, page 16, would shoAV a probable average 
rainfall of about 40 inches. Assuming that 50 per cent of tliis 
reaches the reservoir site, an assumption that seems to be borne out 
by comparison with other sections of the watershed, the annual rain¬ 
fall Avould amount to 15,000 acre-feet. The reservoir site is an excel¬ 
lent one. A dam could be built in the narrow gorge and with little 
doubt sufficient capacity could be secured to equalize the flow for 
poAver purposes throughout the year. The constant available flow 
for this reservoir has, therefore, been taken in the subsequent power 
estimates as 20 cubic feet per second. 

Summary—h. summary of the data giA^en in the preceding pages 
concerning height and length of dams, storage cai:)acities and areas of 
reservoirs, and amount of public lands flooded at each site mav be 
found in Table No. 13, page 58. 


TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


47 


POSSIP.LE WATER POWER DEVELOPI^IENTS. 

The water-poAver estimates contained in the following pages are 
intended to shoAv the possibilities of the watershed if developed to 
its full capacity for poAver purposes, regardless of any conflict be- 
tAveen such purposes and the irrigation or other uses which are de¬ 
pendent upon the same Avater sources. Later a brief discussion will 
be given of the radical difference in the character of the utilization 
of the Avater resources of a drainage area if developed for power 
purposes than if developed for the purposes of irrigation. As stated 
hitherto in the discussion of reservoir sites, this report can not go 
into the detailed estimate of cost upon which alone the final con¬ 
clusions could be reached as to the feasibility of any particular power 
development. It has been the purpose, however, to indicate a general 
scheme of development Avhich, from the examination and studies 
made, AAmuld seem feasible of execution and which would be capable 
of effecting a complete utilization for poAver purposes of that portion 
of the Truckee Eiver Avatershed above Clarks Station, Nev., regardless 
of whether such projects would be located within or without the 
Tahoe National Forest. 

In the following pages Avill be given a brief outline of the several 
projects on Avhich power estimates have been made. Estimates of 
the amount of water available have been taken from the studies on 
run-off and stream floAv in the preceding pages which are sum¬ 
marized in diagram No. 31 appended to this report. Heads avail¬ 
able have been taken from the contours of surveys when such were 
available, and when not, from carefully checked aneroid barometer 
readings taken upon the ground. Amounts of power as given are 
horsepower to generator shafts based on a water-wheel efficiency of 
80 per cent. The amount of power actually available for use would 
be considerably less than the above, due to mechanical and elec¬ 
trical losses in the generation of the power and its transmission 
to the point of use. As will be seen from the power computa¬ 
tions under the several projects in the following pages, the estimates 
are based on the complete utilization of a continuous flow of water, 
Avhich would require either a load factor of 100 per cent for the 
power plants or the provision of adequate regulating reservoirs at the 
heads of the pressure pipes. In the absence of such reservoirs the 
actual amount of power developed would be nearly proportionate to 
the daily load factor. In this report “ daily load factor ” is taken 

. Average dailv load X100 

to mean Pi— j — 

Maximum daily load 

Project No. 7, Webber Creeh power plant .—Power house: This 
power house will be located on Webber Creek and on the shore of 
Little Truckee Reservoir No. 1, in T. 19 N.^ R. 14 E., M. D. M., and 
on ‘‘ patented ” land. 

Conduits: A conduit would start at the dam at Webber Lake 
Reservoir and extend down the south side of Webber Creek to the 
powerhouse. The total length would be about 1.75 miles, none of 
Avhich would be situated on national forest land. 

Transmission line: The transmission line has been assumed to fol- 
loAv the northern side of Little Truckee Reservoir No. 1 to a point 



48 


TKUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


on the Sierraville stage road, thence along this road to a junction 
with the Independence. Creek power plant, comprising a total length 
of 8.75 miles, of which 1 mile will be on Government land. 

Water and head available: The head has been estimatea as about 
200 feet and the continuous available flow as 42 cubic feet per second. 
(See diagram No. 31, attached.) 

Power developed: The power developed at 80 per cent efficiency 
with the above water and head would be 42X200X i\=760 H. P. 

Project No. Lake Independerbce power plant. —Power house: 
This power house is to be located on the conduit line from Little 
Tnickee Keservoir No. 1, to the Twin Valley power plant in sec. 
32, T. 19 N., E. 16 E., M. D. M., and on “ patented ” land. The power 
water from this plant would be discharged in the above conduit and 
be used again at the Twin Valley power plant. 

Conduit: The conduit is assumed to be a wood-stave pipe, extend¬ 
ing along the slopes as shown on the general contour map atached, 
to the power house located as above. The conduit would be about 
4 miles in length, of which about 0.25 mile would be on national 
forest land. 

Transmission line: The transmission line for this project is 
assumed to connect with the line from the Webber Creek plant at a 
point on the Sierraville stage road and to follow thence along this 
road southerly to a junction with a line to Prosser Creek power house. 
Its length would be about 6.75 miles, none of which would be on 
national forest land. 

Water and head available: Diagram No. 31 (attached) shows the 
total continuous available flow to be 27 cubic feet per second. The 
total available head has been estimated as 530 feet. 

Power developed: On the above estimates of water and head, 
the amount of power developed at 80 per cent efficiency would be 
27X 530 Xt^t = 1 horsepower. 

Project No. S., Twin Valley power plant.—or house: The power 
house for this plant would be located in sec. 24, T. 18 N., E. 15 E., 
M. D. M., on the shores of Twin Valley Eeservoir and on patented 
land. Though a power house utilizing the water of Little Truckee 
Eeservoir No. 1 could haA^e been located on the Little Truckee Eiver, 
admitting of a shorter conduit line and a greater head than here 
proposed, the water could not be further utilized after discharge 
from the plant. Under the proposed arrangements these waters are 
reused in the Prosser Creek plant and hence under the two develop¬ 
ments utilize a much greater head than if the power house were 
located on the Little Truckee. 

Conduit: The conduit for this power plant starts from the dam 
of the Little Truckee Eeservoir No. 1 and extends around the slopes, 
as shown on the general map accompanying this report, taking up 
on the Avay the water discharged by the Lake Independence plant and 
carrying the combined waters to a poAver house on Twin Valley 
EeserAmir. The length of the conduit Avould be about 12.75 miles, 
of which 0.75 mile Avould be on national forest land, and 0.25 mile on 
public land not within the forest. 

Transmission line: The transmission line is assumed to follow the 
road along the North Fork of Prosser Creek to a point where the 
North Fork bends to the left, thence a long the conduit right of way 


TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


49 


of the Prosser Creek plant to the power house of the latter, a total 
distance of about 5.5 miles, none of which would be on national 
forest land. 

Water and head available: Diagram No. 31 (attached) shows the 
amount of water available from the Little Truckee Reservoir No. 1 
as 157 cubic feet per second, to which is added the 27 cubic feet per 
second discharged from the Lake Independence plant, or a total of 
164 cubic feet per second. The net available head is estimated to 
be 200 feet. 

Power developed: The power developed at 80 per cent efficiency 
with the above water and head would be 164X200 Xi^ =3,000 horse¬ 
power. 

Project No. Prosser Creek power plant .—Power house: The 
power house is assumed to be located in sec. 23, T. 18 N., R. 16 E., 
M. D. M., on the bank of Prosser Creek, about IJ miles beloTv 
Hobarts Mills and on “ railroad ” land. 

Conduit: The conduit for this plant would start from the dam of 
the Twin Valley Reservoir at elevation 6,265 feet and extend thence 
along the slopes on the west side of the creek, taking up the waters 
discharged from the Euers Valley Reservoir, and passing thence as 
showm on the general map to the power house on Prosser Creek. The 
leng^th along this location is about 6 miles, of which 0.25 mile is on 
national forest land. 

Transmission line: A transmission line for this plant, carrying also 
the power from the Twin Valley plant, would extend about \ mile to 
a junction with the line from Webber Creek and Lake Independence 
plants. The line carrying the combined power of all the above plants 
would extend thence down Prosser Creek to a junction with the lines 
along the Truckee River. The total length would be about 4 miles, 
of which 0.5 mile would be on national forest land. 

Water and head available: Diagram No. 31 (attached) shows that 
62 cubic feet per second could be made available from the watershed 
above the Twin Valley and the Euers Valley Dams, to which is to be 
added the 164 cubic feet per second discharged from the Twin Valley 
plant, making a total of 226 cubic feet per second. The net available 
head is estimated to be 550 feet. 

Power developed: On the basis of the above estimated water and 
head the amount of power developed at 80 per cent efficiency would be 
226X550 XtV=11,300 H. P. 

Project No. 5, Truckee power plant .—Power house: This power 
house Tvould be located on the banks of Truckee River immediately 
below the highway bridge in the town of Truckee, and would be on 
private land. 

Conduit: The conduit for this plant would start at the dam of the 
Donner Lake Reservoir and extend along the northern slopes of the 
TruckeeuCanyon, thence by tunnel, as shown on the general map, to a 
regulating reservoir on Trout Creek immediately behind the town of 
Truckee. From the regulating reservoir, which would serve to utilize 
a portion of the run-off of Trout Creek, a short conduit line and 
pressure pipe would conduct the water to the power house located as 
above. The total length of the conduit would be about 3 miles, of 
which 0.25 mile would be on national forest land. 


23914°—H. Doc. 451, 62-2-4 



50 


TEUCKEE-CARSON-IiAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


Transmission line: The transmission line for this project would 
extend down the Truckee River, as shown on the map, meeting the 
transmission line from projects 1, 2, 3, and 4, and extending thence 
to Boca. The total distance is about 6.50 miles, of which about 1.25 
miles would be on national forest land. 

Water and head available: Diagram No. 31 (attached) shows the 
amount of water continuously available to be 89 cubic feet per second. 
The available head is 140 cubic feet. 

Power developed: At 80 per cent efficiency of wheels the above 
amount of water under the above head would develop 89Xl40XiS: = 
1,130 H. P. 

Project No. Boca power plant .—Power house: This project 
contemplates the development of lower Prosser Creek and of the 
Truckee River from Truckee to Boca by bringing the water in sepa¬ 
rate conduits and under different heads to a common power house 
situated on the north bank of the Truckee River at the town of Boca 
and upon private land. 

Conduit: The Prosser Creek conduit would start at a diverting 
dam situated on Provsser Creek immediately below the outlet of Alder 
Creek. The conduit would extend thence along the left bank of 
Prosser Creek and of the Truckee River to Boca. The conduit for 
conveying the water of the Truckee River would start at a diverting 
dam located on the Truckee River immediately below the Truckee 
power house and would extend along the left bank of the river to the 
power house at Boca. The total len^h of conduit line in the two 
developments would be about 10.75 miles, of which about 2.75 miles 
would be on national forest land. 

Transmission line: The transmission line for this plant would 
follow along the course of the Truckee River to the Floriston 
power house, a distance of about 5.25 miles, none of which would be 
on national forest land. 

Water and head available: The water available from the regular 
flow of lower Prosser Creek is estimated to be 10 cubic feet per 
second, to which is added the amount discharged from the Prosser 
Creek power house, or 226 cubic feet per second, making a total 
available of 236 cubic feet per second. The amount available from 
the flow of the main Truckee River at the diversion dam at Truckee 
(see Diagram No. 31, attached) is estimated to be 30 cubic feet per 
second. This, added to the amount discharged from the Truckee 
River plant, gives a total of 119 cubic feet per second. The estimated 
heads are for the Prosser Creek conduit 325 feet, for the Truckee 
River conduit 225 feet. 

Power developed: On the basis of the above water and head the 
power that could be developed at 80 per cent efficiency would be, 
Prosser Creek, 236X325XTV='^?dfld H. P.; Truckee River, 119X 
225XtV=2,400 H. P. ; total, 9,400 H. P. 

Project No. 7, Floriston power plant .—Power house: It is pro¬ 
posed to locate this power plant at or near Floriston to supersede the 
present plant located at that point. This power house would be 
placed on the north bank of the Truckee River and on public land 
not included within the national forest. 

Conduit: This conduit would extend from a diverting dam imme¬ 
diately below the Boca plant, a distance of about 4.25 miles to Floris- 


TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 51 

ton, of which distance about 0.25 mile would be on public land not 
within the national forest. 

Transmission line: This would extend from the power plant along 
the general course of the river to the city of Reno and would prob¬ 
ably be strung on the present pole lines of the company. The total 
distance from Florist on to Reno is about 20 miles, of which about 1.75 
miles, in T. 18 N., R. 18 E., M. D. M., are on national forest land, 
and about 0.5 mile in the same township on public land not within 
the national forest. The status of the lands in the remaining 15 
miles to Reno is unknown. 

Water and head available: The water available for this plant 
would be made up of the discharge of the Boca plant, 355 cubic feet 
per second, plus the 27 cubic feet per second, estimated as the avail¬ 
able discharge of the lower Little Truckee River (see Diagram No. 
31, attached) or a total of 402 cubic feet per second. The net head is 
estimated as 235 feet. 

Power developed: The amount of power developed with the above 
water and head would be, at 80 per cent efficiency, 402X235 Xt^ 
=8,600 H. P. 

Project No. 8, Lake Washoe power plant .—This project contem¬ 
plates the utilization of the waters of Lake Tahoe through the 
“ second diversion,” as provided for in the Truckee River General 
Electric Co.-Reclamation Service agreement. 

In connection with the development of the waters of Lake Tahoe 
it is proposed to develop also the run-off of the Little Valley water¬ 
shed, installing the generating machinery in the same power house, 
but with the remaining part of the development distinct. 

Power house: The proposed power house would be located on the 
shores of Lake Washoe reservoir and on the private holdings of the 
California-Nevada Power Co. 

Conduit: The proposed conduit would consist of about 4 miles of 
tunnel and 0.50 mile of pipe, or a total of 4.50 miles all on or through 
“ patented ” land. The Little Valley conduit would consist of a pipe 
line from the Little Valley reservoir to the same power house, having 
a length of about 1.75 miles, all of which would be on patented land. 

Transmission line: The transmission line for this plant has been 
assumed to pass along the western shore of the Lake AVashoe reser¬ 
voir, thence down the valley of Steamboat Creek to Reno, as shown 
on the general map accompanying this report. The total distance is 
about 22 miles, of which about 1.25 miles would be on public land not 
within the national forest. 

AA^ater and head available: With a storage capacity at Lake Tahoe 
of more than double the average annual yield of the watershed, and 
with no limit fixed in the agreement as to the depth at which the 
tunnel may be constructed, it is believed that, if developed solely for 
power, the entire run-off of the watershed might be made available. 
The average run-off for eight years (see table No. 7, p. 20 ) has been 
423 second-feet. Power estimates will be made on the assumed con¬ 
tinuous use of 420 cubic feet per second under a head of 1,150 feet. 
The water available from Little Valley reservoir is estimated to be 
20 cubic feet per second, and the net head 1,400 feet. 

Power developed: AVith 80 per cent efficiency of the wheels 420 
cubic feet of water per second under a head of 1,150 feet will develop 
42 OXI 5 I 5 OXTV =43,900 H. P. Similarly the power developed from 


52 


TKUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


the Little Valley reservoir would be 20X1?400 Xtt= 2,540 H. P. 
Total power developed, 46,440 H. P. 

Since both conduit lines will doubtless be under pressure through 
the whole length, no water need be wasted, and hence no deductions 
need be made on account of the daily-load factor of the plant. 

Project No. 9^ Steamboat Valley power plant .—Pow^r house: This 
powder house has been assumed to be located on Steamboat Creek, at 
the mouth of the canyon below Lake Washoe. The probable location 
would be on sec. 4, T. IT N., R. 20 E., M. D. M., and on “ patented ” 
land. 

Conduit: The conduit for this plant would start at the impounding 
dam of the Lake Washoe reservoir and extend by tunnel and canal 
a distance of about 4 miles to a point above the proposed power¬ 
house location. Of this distance, about 1.25 miles wmuld be on public 
land not within the national forest. 

Transmission line: The power from this plant would be trans¬ 
mitted over the line of the Lake Washoe plant. 

Water and head available: The amount of water discharged from 
the Lake Washoe plant, namely, 440 cubic feet per second, must be 
reduced by the amount of the loss by evaporation in Lake Washoe, 
estimated to average about 38,000 acre-feet per annum, or an equiv¬ 
alent of 52 cubic feet per second, leaving 388 cubic feet per second 
for the Steamboat Valley plant. The net available head is estimated 
at 500 feet. 

Power developed: The power developed at 80 per cent efficiency 
w^ould be 388 X500 Xti = 1^7^50 H. P. 

Project No. 10^ Clarks Station power plant .—Power house: This 
would be located on the north side of the Truckee River, in the vicin¬ 
ity of Clarks Station, so that the discharged water could be taken 
into the Truckee-Carson Canal for irigation purposes. 

The status of the site is unknowm. It is probably “patented ” and 
is not on national forest land. 

Conduit: It is assumed that all the water utilized in the several 
projects outlined above would be diverted at a point near Vista, Nev., 
and conducted in a canal to the powder house at Clarks Station. The 
length of this canal would be about 11 miles. The status of this land 
is unknown, but none is within the national forest. 

Transmission line: The transmission line from this plant would 
extend up the Truckee. River to meet at Reno the transmission lines 
from the upper Truckee and from the Steamboat Valley. This line 
would be about 18 miles in length. The status of the land is un¬ 
known, but none is wdthin the national forest. 

Water and head available: The water available for this plant 
would consist of the 402 cubic feet per second discharged from the 
rioriston plant, plus the 388 cubic feet per second discharged from 
the Steamboat Valley plant, or 790 cubic feet per second. From this 
has been deducted an estimated amount of 50 cubic feet per second 
for irrigation purposes in the Reno Valley and 20 cubic feet per sec¬ 
ond for irigation in the Steamboat Valley, leaving a total available 
of 720 cubic feet per second. The net head is estimated as 200 feet. 

Power developed: At 80 per cent efficiency, the power developed 
would be 720X200XTT = Phldd II. P. 

Summary.— No. 14, page 59, gives a summary of the water 
and heads available, the length of the conduits and transmission lines, 


TRtrcKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE, PROJECT. 


53 


the amounts of power developed at each of the projects outlined 
above, and the length of conduits and transmission lines on lands in¬ 
cluded within the Tahoe National Forest. 

WAITER POWER V. IRRIGAIUON. 

An examination of diagram No. 31, appended to this report will 
show at a glance the essential conflict that exists between water¬ 
power interests and irrigation interests operating upon the same 
watershed. All the endeavors of the former are devoted toward the 
transformation of the irregular, natural flow of streams into a uni¬ 
form, continuous flow throughout the entire year; of the latter 
toward the concentration of the entire annual run-olf into the few 
months of the irrigation season. When the irrigation season coin-t 
cides with the period of natural low flow in the streams, it is true that 
storage for power purposes, by increasing the low-water flow, increases 
also the amounts available for irrigation above what could be secured 
if no storage for any purposes were made. But the amount thus 
made available for irrigation is far less than if storage were developed 
primarily for irrigation purposes. 

Table No. 8.— Average quantities of water {acre-feet) that could have been 
drawn annually from storage for power purposes from certain reservoirs on 
the tcatershed of the Truekee River during the period 1900-1906, inclusive, 
and the average annual amount availahle for irrigation prior to Septemher 1 ^ 
of each year. 


Reservoirs. 

Estimated 

total 

capacity. 

Used 
belore 
Sept. 1.2 

Used 
after 
Sept. 1.2 

Total 

annual 

use. 

Col. 2 
Col. S 

Col. 3 
Col. 4 

Col. 4 
Col. 5 

Col. 2 
Col. 1 

Webber. 

20,000 

2,800 

9,680 

12,480 

0.22 

0.78 

0.62 

0.14 

Little Truekee No. 1. 

60,000 

10,700 

32,000 

42,700 

.25 

.75 

.71 

.18 

Hermess Pass. 

20,000 

2,760 

5,120 

7,880 

.35 

.65 

.39 

.14 

Lake Independence. 

15,000 

2,050 

6,960 

9,010 

.23 

.77 

.60 

.14 

Twin and Euer Valleys.... 

32,000 

4,230 

14,400 

18,630 

.23 

.77 

.58 

.13 

Donner Lake. 

47,000 

7,840 

21,000 

28,840 

.27 

.73 

.61 

.17 

Total. 

194,000 

30,380 

89,160 

119,540 

.25 

.75 

.62 

.155 


1 End of the main irrigation season in Nevada. 2 From diagram No. 31 appended to this report. 


Through the storage curves of diagram No. 31 a vertical line has 
been drawn marking the end of the main irrigation season in Nevada. 
A comparison of the storage areas on either side of this line on the 
several curves will show how large a percentage of the stored waters 
would have been required for power purposes during the period cov¬ 
ered by the curves. From this diagram Table No. 8 has been prepared, 
showing the average annual amount that would have been used from 
storage from the several reservoirs during the seven years, 1900-1906, 
inclusive, had these reservoirs been used for power purposes during 
the period, had the run-off been as estimated, and had the storage been 
developed as assumed. This table shows that during this period 62 
per cent of the total capacity of the reservmirs would have been util¬ 
ized, on the average, and that of this amount 25 per cent only, or 
15J per cent of the total storage capacity of the reservoir would have 
been available for irrigation uses prior to September 1 of the several 
years. The remaining amounts would have been discharged during 
the months in which the water could not have been used for irrigation. 

Diagram No. 29 (attached), copied from a similar diagram pre¬ 
pared in the office of the United States Keclamation Service at Fal- 























54 


TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


Ion, Nev., shows the amount of water that could have been used for 
irrigation from Lake Tahoe during the period November, 1900, to 
December, 1908, inclusive, if the gates had been operated by the 
Keclamation Service. This diagram shows that during two periods, 
namely, October, 1902, to January, 1903, inclusive, and September 
15, 1903, to January 15, 1904, inclusive, there would have been a de¬ 
ficiency in the assumed requirements, in the former period of 90,000 
acre-feet and in the latter period of 95,000 acre-feet. These amounts 
could have been supplied by drawing down the level of the lake. At 
all times since February 15,1904, however, the assumed requirements 
could have been met from the natural yield of the watershed. Table 
No. 9, computed from diagram No. 29, gives the amounts of water 
that would have been used for irrigation purposes from Lake Tahoe 
during the period November, 1900, to December, 1908, had the re¬ 
quirements been as shown on the diagram and had the reservoir been 
subject to the control of the Reclamation Service. 


Table No. 9. —Irrigation and power requirement from Lake Tahoe storage a/nd 
quantity that would have been available for use on Truekee-Carson projeet 
during the years 1900-1908, inclusive, in acre-feet. 


Year ending December 31— 

Total re¬ 
quirement.! 

Defi¬ 
ciency. 3 

Require 
ment other 
than recla- 
mation.2 

Utilizable, 

Truckee- 

Carson 

project. 

1901. 

205,000 

285,000 

2.55,000 

2,0.50,000 

315,000 

200,000 

80,000 

380,000 


40,000 

75,000 

65,000 

45,000 

75,000 

75,000 

35,000 

85,000 

165,000 

210,000 

190,000 

160,000 

240,000 

125,000 

45,000 

295,000 

1902. 

90,000 

95,000 

1903. 

1904. 

1905. 


1906. 


1907. 


1908. 


Averages. 


241,000 

23,000 

62,000 

179,000 



1 From curve No. 4, diagram No. 29, attached. 

2 From curve No. 5, diagram No. 29, being the amount required to supply 40,000 acres in Reno Valley, 
irrigation requirements below Truckee Dam, and to maintain required now at power plants. 

8 Excess of assumed requirements over estimated yield. Supplied by drawing do\vn the level of the 
lake. 

The first column of Table No. 9 gives the estimated amounts that, 
in addition to the natural flow of that portion of the Truckee River 
watershed between Tahoe and Clarks Station, it would have been 
necessary to draw from Lake Tahoe storage in order to provide for 
‘‘ vested rights along the Truckee River and to maintain a full flow 
in the lower Truckee Canal during the irrigation season (1,200 cubic 
feet per second) except for months in which the irrigation require¬ 
ments for 150,000 acres below Carson Dam and 15,000 acres under 
the Truckee Canal, plus seepage losses, would be less than the full 
capacity of the canal.” This average annual requirement is shown 
to be 241,000 acre-feet. 

The second column shows the amount of the deficiency in supply 
for the two years 1902 to 1903, amounts which could have been 
secured by lowering the level of the lake. 

The third column shows the annual ‘‘ storage requirements from 
Lake Tahoe to supply 40,000 acres in Reno Valley, irrigation require¬ 
ments below Truckee Dam to Pyramid Lake, and to maintain a flow 
at Mystic at Califomia-Nevada State line for power purposes of 500 

























TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. ^ 55 

second-feet from March 1 to October 1, and 400 second-feet from 
October 1 to March 1,” an average of 62,000 acre-feet per annum. 

The last column shows the amounts di'awn from Lake Tahoe stor¬ 
age that would have been used for irrigation purposes on theTruckee- 
Carson project, an average of 179,000 acre-feet per annum. 

Curve No. G on diagram No. 29 (attached) shows the massed sur¬ 
plus of the yield of Lake Tahoe watershed above the requirements 
during the period. This curve shows that to have maintained the 
requirements as there given would have required a maximum storage 
capacity of 530,000 acre-feet, equivalent to a net depth of 4.25 feet 
on the lake. In view of the fact that the storage capacity of the 
lake is 745,000 acre-feet, and that a large amount of water would 
have been ^vasted in the later years of this period, it is probable that 
the amount available for irrigation uses could be increased above 
the 179,000 acre-feet as given in the table, probably up to an average 
annual use of 200,000 acre-feet. 

Table No. 10 gives the run-off of the Truckee River at Vista, 
Nev., the gauging station at the entrance to the canyon above Clarks 
Station for the irrigation period April to August, inclusive, for the 
years 1900 to 1906, inclusive. These figures show the amounts that 
have been available for irrigation uses under the present control of 
the lake outlet during the several years. 


Table No. 10 .—Mean monthly run-off of Truckee River at gauging station, Vista, 
Nev., during the irrigation season, Apr. 1-Aug. 31, inclusive, for the years 
1900-1906, inclusive, in cuMc feet per second. 



1900 

1901 

1902 

1903 

1904 

1905 

1906 

April. 

756 

1,380 

2,145 

1,263 

1,922 

1,537 

4,172 
4,924 

1,003 

2,910 

May. 

1,257 

709 

1,610 

1,852 

1,279 

3,870 

3,400 

2,170 

729 

June. 

1,056 

1,020 

259 

3,174 

930 

July . 

110 

425 

292 

1,313 

260 

August. 

122 

315 

311 

192 

771 

224 


Mean . 

590 

1,106 

1,038 

990 

2,871 

739 

2,616 




Table No. 11 shows the amounts that could have been used provid¬ 
ing the canal was kept at its full capacity (1,200 (?) second-feet) 
whenever such an amount, plus 50 second-feet, assumed to be needed 
for irrigation requirements below Clarks Station, was flowfing in 
the river. Since, however, the requirements for irrigation during 
a portion of the season are not as much as the full canal capacity, 
these figures doubtless represent more than could have actually been 
utilized. 


Table No. 11 .—Maximum monthly run-off availahle for Truckee-Carson recla¬ 
mation project assuming capacity of canal as 1,200 cubic feet per second and 
allowing 50 cubic feet per second for irrigation purpose below Clarks Station. 



1900 

1901 

1902 

1903 

1904 

1905 

1906 

Mean. 

Acre-feet. 

April. 

706 

1,200 

1,200 

1,200 

1,200 

953 

1,200 

1,094 

65,000 

May. 

1,200 

1,200 

1,200 

1,200 

1,200 

1,200 

1,200 

1,200 

73,800 

June. 

659 

1,200 

1,006 

970 

1,200 

880 

1,200 

1,016 

60,500 

July . 

60 

375 

242 

209 

1,200 

210 

1,200 

513 

31,500 

August. 

72 

365 

261 

142 

721 

174 

679 

345 

21,200 

Mean. 

539 

868 

782 

744 

1,104 

683 

1,096 

834 

1252,000 


1 This amount could be entirely utilized only on the assumption that the irrigation requirements are 
never less during any month than the full capacity of the canal. 








































56 


TKUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


The latest of the proposed agreements between the Triickee Kiver 
General Electric Co. and the Reclamation Service, in paragraph 5, 
provides that in event of the construction of the second diversion ” 
“ a sufficient quantity of water shall, by storage or other means to be 
provided by the company, be delivered to the Truckee River at or 
above the place of diversion for said Truckee-Carson project near 
Clarks Station in such manner that the ‘ second diversion ’ shall not 
have the effect of diminishing the quantity of water flowing in said 
Truckee River near Clarks Station and which would be available for 
the use of the said Truckee-Carson project in case no such ‘ second 
diversion ’ for power purposes from Lake Tahoe were provided.” 

The effect that the second diversion ” will have upon the irriga¬ 
tion interests will depend in the main upon the interpretation placed 
on the above paragraph; that is, whether the flow w^hich the company 
guarantees to maintain at Clarks Station would be that which had 
been available for irrigation immediately before the construction of 
the ‘‘ second diversion ” or whether it would be that which had been 
available up to the time of the signing of the contract. However 
this be interpreted, it is evident that under the terms of the contract 
the company could, if it so desired, develop all the available reservoir 
sites on Donner and Prosser Creeks and Little Truckee River and 
that of the waters stored therein but a small proportion would be 
available for irrigation compared with what could be made available 
were these sites developed by the United States Reclamation Service 
primarily for the use and benefit of the Truckee-Carson project. 

OPPORTUNITY FOR AND POSSIBILITY OF MONOPOLY. 

The terms of the proposed agreement granting to the Truckee River 
General Electric Co. the right to file on any and all reservoir and 
power sites within the watershed of the Truckee River obviously, as 
far as any governmental sanction is necessary, would permit that 
company to acquire a complete monopoly of the power resources of 
this watershed. Several of the possible projects outlined in this 
report, since no Government land is involved, could possibly be ac¬ 
quired by other and competing interests. Actually, however, such a 
possibility is very remote. The Truckee River General Electric Co. 
and allied interests control the power market of eastern California 
and of Nevada, as well as practically all the sources of power. No 
better statement of the situation can be made than is contained in the 
following extract from the Electrical World of July 29, 1909, under 
the caption “ Hydroelectric developments in California ”: 

Another important development deal consists of the formation of a large 
water and power consolidation in the Sierras, which is to be incorporated under 
the name of the Tiake Tahoe Power & Water Co., and in the development of 
which it is proposed to expend not less than $1,000,000 annually for the next 
four years. W. P. Hammon, the wealthy mining operator, and a syndicate of 
English capitalists and New York and Boston bankers are back of the project. 
It is stated that they recently paid $3,000,000 to close the deal. The principal 
purpose of the syndicate is the development of power from the water of Lake 
Tahoe, of which it controls the only outlet. Transmission lines will be run 
on both sides of the mountains, supplying energy to the entire State of Nevada 
as far east as Ely and on the California side to Sacramento and through the 
valley of the Sacramento River. 

At the same time it is announced that Mr. Hammon has reached an agreement 
with the United States Government whereby all of the suits in which the Inte¬ 
rior Department had made him a defendant in the Federal courts in seeking to 
protect the Truckee-Carson irrigation project from the encroachment of Ham- 


TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


57 


moil on the waters of Lake Tahoe have been dismissed. The entire output of 
the plants now combined, together with that which will be constructed near 
Lake Tahoe, will be developed to 200,000 horsepower. The concerns which have 
been consolidated by the Hammon syndicate are the Truckee River General 
Electric Co., the control cf which Hammon recently purchased from the 
Fleischackers; the California-Nevada Electric Power Co., which had been 
controlled by F. G. Baum and Francis V. Keesling, agents of Hammon; and 
the Loon Lake Water & Power Co., which has been in the hands of Chickering & 
Gregory. 

It is stated that the Government has agreed, through the Secretary of the 
Interior, to a joint control of the outlet of Lake Tahoe, so that the Truckee- 
Carson irrigation project and the power development by the new corporation 
will be carried out under an agreement by which Hammon will secure the right 
to use the water under certain regulations by the Government which it is 
considered will protect the interests of the Federal irrigation project in 
Nevada. 

One of the first parts of the construction work to be undertaken will be the 
long transmission line to Ely, Nev., where the Hammon corporation is to furnish 
energy to the smelters. This will not only be one of the longest transmission 
lines, but it will also carry a load of 10,000-horsepower. 

In addition to furnishing energy to Reno and Sparks, the new corporation, 
through the California-Nevada Co., is supplying electricity to the mines at 
Tonopah and Goldfield, and has the control of the market in the entire State. 
This, together with the transmission line in the Sacramento Valley, will give 
the company a field from the eastern border of Nevada to Sacramento. 

The greatest part of the energy sold in Nevada will be developed from the 
Carson and Walker Rivers, while the engineers have plans for new power sta¬ 
tions on the Truckee, where three stations are already in operation. 

The engineering work of all the Hammon plants is in the hands of Frank G. 
Baum, formerly engineer for the California Gas & Electric Corporation. Mr. 
Baum has already increased the output of the Truckee River plants by 1,000 
horsepower, through changes in the engineering features of the system. 

GENERAL SUMMARY. 

Location of area involved. —The proposed Truckee General Elec¬ 
tric Co.-Keclamation Service agreement involves all of the watershed 
of the Truckee Kiver above Clarks Station, Nev., an area of about 
1,520 square miles. Of this area practically every alternate section 
is railroad land, of the remainder many sections are patented and 
hence comparatively little national forest land is involved. The 
actual amounts appear in Tables Nos. 13, and 14, pages 58 and 59. 
(See also p. 7). 

Origin of the right of the Truckee River General Electric Co. and 
negotiations with the Reclamation Service. —The power rights on 
the Truckee River originated in a special act of the California Leg¬ 
islature, approved April 4, 1870, granting to the Donner Lumber & 
Boom Co. a 20-year franchise for the construction and operation of 
dams and flood gates on the Truckee River between the outlet of 
Lake Tahoe and the town of Truckee. After the date of the expira¬ 
tion of the franchise, 1895, the Donner Lumber & Boom Co. appear 
to have continued to exercise the right by prescription. In the mean¬ 
time several power plants had been constructed on the river below the 
town of Tmckee and a conflict of interests between the power com¬ 
panies and the Donner Lumber & Boom Co., having arisen, one of 
the former, the Fleischackers, purchased the land at the outlet of 
Lake Tahoe and the right to control and operate the gates. The 
Fleischackers, after having consolidated under one ownership all 
the power plants on the river, attempted to conclude an agreement 
with the Department of the Interior, through the Reclamation Serv¬ 
ice, looking to the control of the flood waters of the lake. While 
these negotiations were pending the rights and property of the 


58 


TRUCKEE-CARSON'LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


Fleischackers were purchased by the Hammon syndicate and 
through the agency of the latter the form of agreement of May, 
1909, has been presented for execution. (For details see pp. 9 to 11 
and 130 to 141.) 


Table No. 12. —Present power developments on the TrueTcee River. 


Name. 

Location of development. 

Diversion 1 
capacity, 
cubic feet 
per second. 

Head.i 

Power 

capacity, 

horse¬ 

power. 

Floriston Pulp & Paper C0.2. 

Truckee River General Electric C0.2_ 

Truckee River General Electric C0.2_ 

W ashoe Power & Development C0.2_ 

Reno Power, Light & Water C0.2. 

Total capacity. 

Floriston. 

Faraday. 

Fleischackers. 

Mogul. 

Reno. 

400 

400 

300 

300 

250 

56 

85 

126 

88 

41 

1,500 
3 2,300 
3 3,100 
2,000 
3940 



9,840 

900 

10,740 

Other power developments (approxi¬ 
mate) . 









1 From “Indenture" dated Oct. 15, 1908. (See Appendix.) 

2 Under control of Truckee River General Electric Co. 

3 Horsepower capacity of installed machinery. (Eng. Rec., July 17, 1909.) 

Present poioer developments .—Table No. 12 gives a summary of 
the data concerning the five power plants now operating on the 
Truckee River under the ownership of the Truckee River General 
Electric Co. This information is given in detail, together wdth 
descriptions of the power plants on pages 11 to 13 preceding. 

Precipitation^ run-off.^ and stream flow .—On pages 14 and 15 have 
been given tables of precipitation at several stations on the water¬ 
shed and a discussion of the relation of elevation to precipitation. 
This data has been used in the succeeding estimates of run-off and 
stream floAv (pp. 15-20) which have in turn been made the basis of 
the estimates of the amount of water available for the development 
of power. The run-off and stream-flow data as summarized in Table 
No. 15 and diagram No. 31 appended to this report. 

Table No. 13. —Area ^ and storage capaeity of reservoirs, dimensions of dams, 
and land flooded for certain possible reservoir sites on the watershed of the 
Truelcee River in California and Nevada. 


Reservoir. 


Maximum 
storage 
capacity .2 


Maxi¬ 
mum area 
of water 
surface.2 


Area of 
land 
flooded .2 


Webber Lake.. 

Little Truckee No. 1 

Heness Pass. 

Lake Independence. 

Twin Valley. 

Euers Valley. 

Dormer Lake. 

Squaw Valley. 

Dog Valley. 

Lake Tahoe. 

Lake Washoe. 

Little Valley. 


Acre-feet. 
20,000 
60,000 
17,000 
15,000 
27,000 
2,000 
47,000 
500 
6,000 
745,000 
6 125,000 
4 2,000 


Acres. 
1,125 
1,095 
590 
995 
475 
4 100 
1,670 
56 
280 
123,500 
8,500 
4 120 


Acres. 

893 

1,095 

590 

335 

475 

100 

865 

56 

280 

1,358 

5,000 

120 


Total 


1,066,500 


138,506 


11,167 


Public 
land 
flooded .2 

Public 

land, 

total 

flooded. 

Acres. 

11 

102 

Acres. 

0.012 

.093 

375 

30 

.224 

.063 

66 

.007 











224 

.020 


Maxi¬ 
mum 
height 
of dam. 

Maxi¬ 
mum 
length 
of dam. 

Feet. 

Feet. 

40 

1,800 

no 

640 

56 

•720 

30 

960 

78 

1,000 

4 50 

4500 

46 

3,200 

20 

500 

66 

240 

6 

100 

20 

4 100 

4 40 

4 200 


4 Areas approximate qnly, being measured by planimeter from the maps contained in this report. 

2 At the maximum high-water levels assumed in this report. 

3 Thirty-five acres of this are “State selection unapproved.” 

4 Assumed. 

‘ All of this area is “State selection unapproved.” 

6 At elevation “15 feet” as shown on diagram No. 27, p. 44. 

























































TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE, PROJECT. 


59 


Reservoir sites. —On pages 20 to 46 has been given a detailed de¬ 
scription of the several reservoir sites upon this watershed, includ¬ 
ing location, status of land, reclamation withdrawals, dams, areas, 
and storage capacity. The greater part of this information is sum¬ 
marized in table No. 13, page 58. AVliile it had not been possible 
Avith the time and data at hand to make such studies of these sites, 
especially cost estimates, as could lead to final conclusion concerning 
the practicability of the development of all herein described, yet it 
is belieATcl that these sites are sufficiently favorable to warrant their 
inclusion in this report. 

Possible power developments. —It has been the intention in making 
an estimate of the power possibilities of this watershed to lay out 
a general scheme of development that, from the data at hand, would 
seem feasible of construction and at the same time would include all 
the sites that Avould probably be utilized. As stated above, in rela¬ 
tion to reservoir sites no attempt has been made to reach final con¬ 
clusions as to the feasibility of any particular project outlined, since 
neither the time nor the data are available for making the detailed 
cost estimates upon Avhich alone such conclusions could be based. 
Descriptions have been given of 10 possible projects on pages 47 to 
53, and the essential data concerning them has been summarized in 
Table No. 14. 


Table No. 14. —Sinmmary of dal a of certain possible jnmer plants on loatershed 

of Truckee River. 


No. of 
project. 

Location. 

Volume 

water 

utilized. 

Net head. 

Horse¬ 
power 
at 80 
per cent 
efficiency. 

Length 

conduits. 

Miles 

conduit 

on 

National 

Forest. 

Length 

trans¬ 

mission 

lines. 

Miles 
trans¬ 
mission 
lines on 
National 
Forest. 



Sec.-ft. 

Feet. 


Miles. 


Miles. 


1 

Webber Creek. 

42 

200 

760 

1.75 


8.75 

1.00 

2 

Lake Independence. 

27 

530 

1,300 

4.00 

0.25 

6.75 


3 

Twin Valley. 

164 

200 

3,000 

12.75 

1.75 

5.50 


4 

Prosser Creek. 

226 

550 

11,300 

6.00 

.25 

4.00 

.50 

5 

Truckee. 

2 89 

140 

1,130 

3.00 

.25 

6.50 

1.25 

6 

Boca. 

236 

325 

7,000 

3.50 

1.00 





3 119 

225 

2,400 

7.25 

1.75 

5.25 


7 

Floriston. 

402 

235 

8,600 

4.25 

C) 

20.00 

< 1.75 

8 

Lake W ashoe. 

420 

1,150 

43,900 

4.50 


22.00 

6) 



20 

1,400 

2,540 

1.75 



9 

Steamboat Valley... 

388 

500 

17,650 

4.00 

(“) 

1 

10 

Clark’s Station. 

720 

200 

13,100 

11.00 


18.00 



Total. 



112,680 

63.75 

4.25 

96.75 

4.50 


1 0.25 mile additional on public land not included in the Tahoe National Forest. 

2 Prosser Creek development. 

3 Truckee River development. 

<0.50 mile additional in T. 18 N., R. 18 E., M. D. M.,on public land not within the national forest. 
Status of the last 15 miles to Reno is unknown. 

61.25 miles on public land not within the national forest. 

Effect on irrigation project. —It has not been the intention to give 
in any detail the probable effect on the irrigation interests of the 
Truckee-Carson project of the proposed agreement. The Reclama¬ 
tion Service engineers estimated that the control of the present 
outlet of Lake Tahoe and the construction of a new dam would enable 
them to secure from storage therein 200,000 acre-feet during each 
irigation season. That this could be done under the terms of the 
contract of October 15, 1908, seems very reasonable. That it could 
be done under the possible interpretation of that paragraph of the 






































60 


TBUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


agreement of May, 1909, relating to the quantity of water to be 
guaranteed at Clarks Station, admits of considerable doubt. There 
IS no doubt, however, that a grant to the company of the right to 
construct reservoirs on the watersheds of Donner and Prosser Creeks 
and of the Little Truckee River would deprive the Truckee-Carson 
project forever of 75 per cent of the water that might be made avail¬ 
able, were these sites developed by the Reclamation Service for the 
sole use and benefit of the reclamation project, unless the Reclama¬ 
tion Service shall construct, lower down on the streams, hold-over 
storage reservoirs of an equivalent capacity. 

Intercoi'porate relations. —The Truckee River General Electric Co. 
is associated in its power development schemes with the California- 
Nevada Power Co., which operate from Mono Lake to Owens Valley; 
with the Loon Lake Water & Power Co., with sites on the Rubicon 
River on the western slope of the Sierras; is connected with the engi¬ 
neering firm of Stone & AVebster, of Boston, owners or operators of 
many electric power developments on this coast; and is probably 
more or less connected with the Southern Pacific Co. in its activities 
on the Yuba and American Rivers, and in its proposed plans for the 
electrification of its mountain division. In this connection and in 
the following, attention is called to an extract from the Electrical 
World of July 29,1909, copied on pages 56 and 57. 

Prohability of mo7iopoly. —The above-named companies not only 
control all the power market of eastern California and Nevada, but 
all the most favorable source of supply. No one single factor could 
assist more in making the present monopoly effective than the reser¬ 
vation of this entire watershed of 1,520 square miles to the Truckee 
River General Electric Co. for a period of five years, during which 
time they may exercise a blanket permit of location. 

Relation to Forest Service policies. —It is the fixed policy of the 
Forest Service, the wisdom of which is constantly becoming more 
evident, to grant no rights in perpetuity for commercial power com¬ 
panies operating within the national forest. It is also a fixed policy 
that for the franchise granted a certain payment must be made for 
the enjoyment of the franchise. Both of these principles would be 
violated if the terms of this agreement were made to apply to 
national forest land. It is true that comparatively little such land 
would be occupied by the actual structures of the power plants, but 
this is true in every instance of power development. The important 
feature is the watershed that lies behind the reservoirs and conduits 
and from which they receive their supply. 

Respectfully submitted. 

O. C. Merrill, Engineer. 

San Francisco, Cal., Sejjtemher 20^ 1909. 


Department of the Interior, 

Wojshington.^ May 19^ 1909. 
The honorable the Secretary of Agriculture. 

Sir: There is herewith transmitted draft of a contract now under 
consideration with a view of securing for the Truckee-Carson project 



TKUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE. PROJECT. 


61 


under the reclamation act the regulation of the storage waters in Lake 
Tahoe, situated in California and Nevada. 

The Truckee River General Electric Co., with which this contract 
is to be made, proposes to construct a tunnel in Nevada from the 
northern end of Lake Tahoe to Lake Washoe, and the same will 
cross the Tahoe National Forest, as shown on the sketch herewith. 

The proposed structures will consist of inlet controlling works at 
the lake and from that point the works will be entirely in tunnel 
while within the exterior boundaries of the national forest. 

It is understood that the route will cross no public lands whatever. 

The benefit received by the United States in this connection, so far 
as it can be measured in money, is as follows: 

The United States acquires the exclusive control of the outlet 
works from Lake Tahoe, with full power to operate the controlling 
works and seciire the benefit of the storage of the waters at an actual 
expenditure of about $25,000, being one-half the cost of the outlet 
works, estimated at about $50,000. The United States is also relieved 
of the cost of moving the railroad along Truckee River, estimated to 
cost about $10,000. 

In the negotiations for the purchase of the tract at the lake outlet 
the price agreed upon had been fixed at $56,000. The total cash sav¬ 
ing is therefore about $91,000. 

The savings in time and water are very large. It is certain that 
no contract could be made with the company that would not provide 
for a right of way for this tunnel, so that in the absence of such con¬ 
tract the necessary rights could be acquired by the United S.tates only 
after years of litigation to condemn the property, and at large cost 
for the legal proceedings. This would mean a restriction of the 
Truckee-Carson project to about one-half its possible area and would 
prevent for many years the irrigation of some 70,000 to 80,000 acres 
of land, a considerable portion of which is Indian land within the 
Pyramid Lake Indian Reservation. 

The tunnel proposition will also correspond to a saving to the 
United States of a water supply estimated about 200 second-feet and 
equivalent to that required for the irrigation of 20,000 acres of land. 
It amounts practically to a shifting of a water supply for power now 
vested for perpetual use from the Truckee River to the tunnel outlet 
and thence back again to the Truckee, with the advantage in the 
latter case that it can be stored for irrigation instead of being wasted 
during the winter. 

The provision of paragraph 7 relating to the general use of storage 
possibilities on the tributaries of the Truckee as may be necessary to 
utilize the waters of Lake Tahoe is supplementary to this diversion 
of water for which the company now has a vested right and may 
involve the use of certain reservoir sites within the national forest 
now withdrawn under the reclamation act, though only a sniall part 
of the land involved is public land. These reservoir sites will prob¬ 
ably be constructed by the United States if they are not constructed 
by the company under this contract. 

Considering the benefits to be derived by the United States from 
this contract it would appear to be largely in excess of any charge 
which the Forest Service would be likely to demand in connection 


62 


TEUCKEE-CAESON-LAKE TAHOE PEOJECT. 


with such right of way. The estimated power to be developed by the 
company is about 30,000 horsepower. 

In view of the considerations passing to the United States by this 
contract in cash saving of $91,000, saving in annual water supply of 
200 cubic feet of water per second and the avoidance of years of delay 
in settling this question so as to provide for the full development of 
the Truckee-Carson project, it is believed that the contract involves 
full compensation to the United States for any use of the natural 
resources which is involved. 

Very respectfully, E. A. Ballinger, 

Secretary, 


This agreement made this - day of -, 1909, by and 

between the Truckee Eiver General Electric Company, a corporation 
organized and existing in the State of California, its successors and 
assigns, party of the first part, hereinafter styled the “ company,’’ and 

the United States, acting in this behalf by -, Director of the 

United States Keclamation Service, and subject to the approval of the 
Secretary of the Interior, party of the second part, witnesseth: 

Vdiereas the company claims title to a tract of approximately fifty- 
four acres in the State of California at the outlet of Lake Tahoe into 
Truckee Eiver, together witli the dam now constructed upon said 
premises near the head of Truckee Eiver and the tenements, heredita¬ 
ments, appurtenances, and easements thereunto belonging, and by 
means of .said dam now regulates the flow of waters so as to be avail¬ 
able for use in the operation of several plants and factories on Truckee 
Eiver hereinafter mentioned; and 

AVliereas the United States desires to utilize the waters stored in 
Lake Tahoe in connection with the Truckee-Carson project in Nevada, 
constructed under the provisions of the act of Congress approved 
June IT, 1902 (32 Stat., 388), known as the reclamation act, and 
claims, under appropriations made by it or on its behalf, the unap¬ 
propriated and surplus waters of Lake Tahoe and the Truckee Eiver 
for irrigation and other uses in connection with said Truckee-Carson 
project, and in this connection has also reserved the public lands 
along the shores of Lake Tahoe and in the immediate vicinity; and 

Whereas tlie parties hereto now desire to provide for the utilization 
of all the waters of Lake Tahoe and of the Truckee Eiver for irriga¬ 
tion and power purposes in such manner as to protect all vested rights 
to the use thereof for such purposes, and also to avoid waste of any 
such w^aters, so far as may be practicable, and generally to cooperate 
to the fullest extent for the beneficial utilization of the waters of Lake 
Tahoe; therefore the parties hereto agree: 

1 . The said lands, aggregating approximately fifty-four acres, and 
the dam thereon and rights appurtenant thereto at the outlet of Lake 
Tahoe into Truckee Eiver were acquired and are now held and have 
for a long time been held or controlled by the company for the pur¬ 
pose of controlling and regulating the flow of water from Lake Tahoe 
down the Truckee Eiver, where such water is used in the operation of 
five certain power plants or factories located upon the banks of said 
river and extending from Floriston in California to a point at or near 
Eeno in Nevada. 






TKUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 63 

The said power plants or factories are of the description and chai'- 
acter set forth in the following schedule: 


Name. 

Location. 

Diversion 

capacity. 

Floriston Pulp & Paper Co. 

Floriston. 

CvMc feet per 
second. 

400 

400 

300 

300 

300 

Truckee River General Electric Co. 

Farad. 

Do. . 

Elci.sh. - 

Washoe Power & Development Co. 

Mogul. 

Reno Power, Light & Water Co. 

Reno. 




It is agreed and understood that the amounts of water above 
specificied are sufficient for all of said plants and factories; the same 
waters being used successively by each of them as such waters pass 
down the said river. 

2 . It is further understood and agreed that in order that the flow 
of said waters shall continue to be available for use in the operation 
of said plants, it is necessary that the gates of the dam at the lake 
outlet should be so manipulated that the flow of the Truckee Kiver 
at Floriston in the State of California shall not be less than 500 
cubic feet per second from the 1st day of March to the 30th day of 
September, inclusive, in each year, and not less than 400 cubic feet 
per second from the 1st day of October to the last day of February, 
inclusive, in each year, and so that the lake elevation on the 1st day 
of October shall be such that it shall be practicable to draw 350 
cubic feet per second at any time in the months of October, Novem¬ 
ber, and December. 

3. In order that there shall be secured to the United States for the 
irrigation and other uses of the Truckee-Carson Project all the water 
supply available by storage in Lake Tahoe, subject only to the con¬ 
ditions of flow and the other conditions herein in this agreement 
fixed by the parties, the company covenants and agrees, forthwith 
to reconstruct its said dam at Lake Tahoe and to build new outlet 
works in connection therewith, also gatekeepers’ buildings, and per¬ 
form the necessary dredging in accordance wdth plans to be approved 
by the Director of the Keclamation Service, and to push such con¬ 
struction to completion at the earliest date practicable, and to 
complete the same or such parts thereof as the Director of the 
Eeclamation Service may require on or before November 1, 1909. 
Prior to November 1, 1909, such changes in the bridges, grade, and 
track of the Lake Tahoe Railway Transportation Company as may 
be necessary for the discharge of twenty-five hundred cubic feet of 
water per second down the Truckee River without damage to the 
railroad shall be provided and the expense thereof shall be borne by 
the company; and until such changes are made, the company shall 
be responsible for all damage to lands or property on the margin of 
Lake Tahoe or along the Truckee River, and the company agrees that 
it will secure, etc. The company shall not be required to do any work 
of construction or reconstruction of the dam and outlet works which 
wdll affect vested rights in respect to the waters of Lake Tahoe and 
Truckee River as the same now exist, or which will subject it to 
claims for damage or injury in respect thereof. 


















64 


TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


4. The company agrees that, subject to the conditions of flow and 
the other terms and conditions of this agreement, the United States, 
commencing on the 1st day of November, 1909, shall have the actual 
and exclusive control and operation of said dam and outlet works, 
and the proper officers and agents of the United States shall at all 
times have unrestricted access to the premises, and the right to use 
the same and the buildings and works thereon for the purposes of 
such control and operation. The United States covenants and agrees 
that, after assuming control hereunder, it will at all times properly 
provide for such control and operation under the terms of this agree¬ 
ment and will pay all the cost and expense of the same. In the 
operation of the said works for the control of the outflow of Lake 
Tahoe, the United States covenants and agrees to so manipulate the 
gates of the dam at the lake outlet that the flow of the Truckee 
River, at Floriston, in the State of California, shall not be less than 
500 cubic feet per second from the 1st day of March to the 30th day 
of September, inclusive, in each year, and not less than 400 cubic 
feet per second from the 1st day of October to the last day of Febru¬ 
ary, inclusive, in each year, and so that the lake elevation on the 1st 
day of October shall be such that it shall be practicable to draw 350 
cubic feet per second at any time in the months of October, Novem¬ 
ber, and December. Subject to the aforesaid conditions of flow and 
lake level and subject to the rights of the company and other owners 
to maintain and operate at all times their respective plants and 
factories as aforesaid and subject to the vested rights on Lake Tahoe 
and the Truckee River, the United States, in the operation of said 
outlet works, shall have the exclusive right to regulate the flow of 
water through said works in such manner as may be deemed best by 
the United States, to secure for its use in the Truckee-Carson project, 
for irrigation and other purposes, all the water supply available by 
storage in Lake Tahoe. The company agrees that after July 1, 1909, 
and prior to turning over the exclusive control of the dam and outlet 
works of Lake Tahoe to the United States, the company will operate 
the gates for the discharge of water into Truckee River, according to 
such schedule, not inconsistent with the terms of this contract, as 
may be furnished by or under authority of the Director of the Recla¬ 
mation Service. 

5. Whenever the company shall relieve the United States from its 
agreement to operate the outlet works so as to deliver water in the 
manner and in the amount, as hereinbefore specified, from Lake 
Tahoe to the power plants on the Truckee River, and the company 
shall agree, to the satisfaction of the Secretary of the Interior, to as¬ 
sume the responsibility and liability of satisfying vested rights of 
all kinds on the Truckee River above Clarks Station on the Southern 
Pacific Railroad, said station being situated above the head of the 
canal constructed by the United States, and shall have made adequate 
provision to satisfy (such) all riparian vested and other rights, to 
the satisfaction of the Secretary, then the United States guarantees 
to deliver water from Lake Tahoe to the said company at a point of 
delivery and diversion to be selected by the company on the margin 
of Lake Tahoe, not higher than the natural outlet of said lake, and 
without charge other than the stipulations of this agreement: Pro¬ 
vided^ however^ That in case of such diversion a sufficient amount of 


TRUCKEE-CAKSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


65 


water shall by means of storage, or otherwise, be delivered by the 
company to the Triickee Kiver through natural or artificial channels, 
at or above said Clarks Station so there shall be available for irriga¬ 
tion, and other purposes, for the Truckee-Carson project of the Kecla- 
mation Service, the same amount of water and rates of flow which 
the United States Avould secure for the said project by the terms of 
the preceding paragraphs of this agreement. It is the essence hereof 
that in case of such diversion the same quantity of water and rates 
of flow shall be received by the United States at the head works near 
Clarks Station as if no such diversion or other storage had been 
undertaken; but in any event, when adequate provision is made to 
satisfy the vested rights as hereinbefore specified, it is agreed that 
the United States will deliver to the company at its said point of 
diversion from Lake Tahoe a daily average draft of 240 cubic feet 
per second, this amount to be given to the company each day at such 
rates of flow during the day as the company may require for its 
uses: Provided^ however^ That the company, when using this said 
average draft at varying rates of flow during the day, shall not draw 
a greater amount than 476 acre-feet during any one civil day. In the 
event of such diversion, the storage controlling works and channels 
therefrom shall be under the exclusive control of the United States. 

6 . The company and its assigns in case of such diversion shall have 
the exclusive right to use the waters delivered and diverted in pur¬ 
suance of paragraph 5 for such power purposes as it or they may 
desire at any point or points before such diverted waters are taken 
into the Truckee-Carson canal by the United States at the headworks 
near Clarks Station, but in such manner that, subject to the terms 
hereof respecting guaranteed flow, there shall be no unnecessary waste 
of water available for the Truckee-Carson project. 

7. The United States agrees that the company shall have the 
right to construct and properly maintain such power plant or plants, 
with appurtenances and connections, as the company or its assigns 
from time to time may elect, on land owned or controlled by the 
United States and as may be necessary to utilize the waters of Lake 
Tahoe, and the Truckee Kiver and tributaries in connection with the 
purposes of this agreement, and shall also have the right of ingress 
and egress on such Government land and the right thereon to carry 
pipes, tracks, and roadways, to place poles, and to run wires under 
ground or over head, as may be necessary in connection with the 
proper and satisfactory operation and maintenance of such plants 
as are built to utilize said water in case of such diversion. 

8 . The United States covenants and agrees that after it assumes 
operation of the dam and outlet works hereunder and after the com¬ 
pletion of the Lake Tahoe dam outlet works and railroad construc¬ 
tion as hereinbefore specified, it will j)rotect and save harmless and 
indemnify the company against all claims for damages to persons or 
property including the dam and other property of the company, due 
to the operation of the dam and outlet works; but the United States 
shall not be held liable for damage to any property or interests below 
the outlet works resulting from a discharge of 2,500 cubic feet of 
water per second from Lake Tahoe into Truckee Kiver. The com¬ 
pany agrees to hold the United States harmless against all claims for 
damage due to the operation of the gates at the outlet, prior to the 

23914°—H. Doc. 451,62-2-5 


66 


TEUCKEE-CAKSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


completion of the said Lake Tahoe dam, outlet works, and railroad 
reconstruction. 

9. The company shall provide for all needful repairs and renewals 
of all of its works which are under the control of the United States, 
and shall promptly provide for such repairs or renewals as may be 
deemed necessary by the Director of the Keclamation Service, and in 
case of failure to do so after due notice, such work may be done by 
the United States at the expense of the company: Provided^ That 
the cost of all repairs and renewals of any works or structures at the 
outlet from Lake Tahoe into Truckee Eiver shall be borne equally 
by the company and by the United States: Provided further^ That 
the United States shall pay all expenses of operation of all works 
of the company which are operated by the United States. 

10. The United States shall not in any manner be liable for failure 
to maintain the flow of water specified in the several paragraphs of 
this agreement when such failure shall have been caused by extra¬ 
ordinary drought or other act of God or the public enemy or by un¬ 
lawful interference; but it is agreed and understood that the United 
States shall have the right, subject to the specifications to flow herein 
made, to draw water from Lake Tahoe at any time and in such quan¬ 
tity as in the judgment of the Director of the Reclamation Service 
may be necessary to prevent damage to lands on the margin of Lake 
Tahoe, and in such case so much of said water shall be delivered to 
the company as may be requested by it. It is also understood and 
agreed that until completion of the new dam and other works by the 
company, the flow of water down the Truckee River shall be subject 
to and dependent upon the capacity of the works now existing. 

11. In further consideration of the stipulations and agreements 
of this contract the United States will pay to the company upon the 
completion of the dam, outlet works, gatekeeper’s buildings, and re¬ 
quired dredging at the outlet of Lake Tahoe an amount equal to one- 
half the reasonable and necessary cost thereof as determined by the 
director, and upon the completion of said works at the Tahoe outlet 
the United States will execute, without other retital charge than the 
stipulations hereof, and upon conditions satisfactory to the Director 
of the Reclamation Service a ten-year lease for the tract of land 
purchased by the United States from the Mercantile Trust Company, 
by deed dated August 9, 1904, and recorded in book 86 of Deeds, at 
page 22, records of Placer County, California; and the United States 
further agrees that if within the said ten years authority shall be 
granted by Congress for the alienation of such tract of land, the same 
shall be transferred to the company or its assigns at a price of $100 
per acre in the option of the company; said option to continue for 
a period of one year only from the date of the granting of the afore¬ 
said authority by Congress, and shall not in any event continue 
longer than eleven years from the date hereof. 

12 . It is understood and agreed that the agreements on the part of 
the United States herein contained as to regulating and controlling 
the flow of water and as to delivery of water in case of diversion are 
the chief considerations moving the company to execute this agree¬ 
ment, without which and confidence in the performance of which by 
the United States, this agreement would not be made, and no person, 
firm, or corporation, other than the United States, and no assign of 


TRUCKEE-CAKSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


67 


the United States, whether by statute or otherwise, shall have any 
right to regulate or control the outlet works of the company under 
this agreement. This agreement shall inure to the benefit of and bind 
the successors and assigns of the company as well as the company 
itself. 

13. This agreement shall not operate to bind the United States 
until it shall have been approved by the Secretar}^ of the Interior, 
whose approval or disapproval will be signified within thirty days 
from receipt of copy hereof duly executed by the company. 

14. No Member of or Delegate to Congress, officer, agent, or em¬ 
ployee of the United States is or shall be admitted to any share or 
part of this contract or to any benefit to arise therefrom, and sections 
3739, 3740, 3741, and 3742, Revised Statutes of the United States, 
so far as applicable, enter into and are a part of this agreement. 

15. This contract is executed on behalf of the company in pur¬ 
suance of a resolution of its board of directors dated -, certi¬ 

fied copy of which is hereto attached. 

In witness wffiereof the parties to this agreement have hereunto set 
their hands and the company has caused its corporate seal to be 
affixed the day and year first above written. 

Truckee River General Electric Company, 

By - ■ 

Director of the United States Reclamation Service^ for 
and on hehalf of the United States^ party of the second part. 

Approved this-day of-, 1909. 

Secretary of the Interior, 


State of-, county of-, ss: 

On this-day of-in the year-, before me (officer’s 

name and quality of officer), personally appeared --, known to 

me (or proved to me on the oath of-) to be the president (or 

secretary) of the corporation who executed the within instrument, 
on behalf of the corporation therein named, and acknowledged to me 
that such corporation executed the same. 


May 22 , 1909. 

The Forester: 

Please advise me with regard to this proposition and return all 
papers for reference to the solicitor. 

Very truly, d. W., Secretary, 


Department or Justice, 

Washington^ May 26^ 1909, 

The Secretary or the Interior. 

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 
May 18, instant, in which you request my opinion upon the validity 
of certain contracts entered into by the Secretary of the Interior with 
associations of water users claiming the benefits of the act of June 17, 
1902 (32 Stat., 388), commonly known as the reclamation act. 


















68 


TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


In answering your inquiries it is necessary to enquire whether regu¬ 
lations made by the Secretary were authorized by the statute. 

The reclamation act is entitled “An act appropriating the receipts 
from the sale and disposal of public lands in certain States and Ter¬ 
ritories to the construction of irrigation works for the reclamation of 
arid lands.” 

By the first section it is provided that all moneys received from 
the sale and disposal of public lands in certain-named States and 
Territories (excepting 5 per cent) shall be reserved, set aside, and 
appropriated as a special fund in the Treasury, to be known as the 
“ Keclamation fund,” to be used in the examination and survey for 
and the construction and maintenance of irrigation works for the 
storage, diversion, and development of waters for the reclamation of 
arid and semiaricl lands in the said States and Territories, and for 
the payment of all other expenditures under this act. 

The second section authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to 
make examinations and surveys for, and “ to locate and construct, as 
herein provided, irrigation works for the storage, diversion, and de¬ 
velopment of waters.” 

Section 3 provides that upon completion of preliminary surveys 
and of the necessary maps, plans, and estimates of cost, after with¬ 
drawal of the public lands required for irrigation works, the Secre¬ 
tary shall determine whether or not said project is practicable and 
advisable, and that public lands which it is proposed to irrigate by 
means of any contemplated works shall be subject to entry only 
under the provisions of the homestead laws in tracts of not less than 
40 nor more than 180 acres and shall be subject to the limitations, 
charges, terms, and conditions herein provided. 

Section 4 is as follows: 

That upon the determination by the Secretary of the Interior that any irri¬ 
gation project is practicable he may cause to be let contracts for the construc¬ 
tion of the same, in such portions or sections as it may be practicable to con¬ 
struct and complete as parts of the whole project, providing the necessary 
funds for such portions or sections are available in the reclamation fund, and 
thereupon he shall give public notice of the lands irrigable under such project 
and limit of area per entry, which limit shall represent the acreage which, in 
the opinion of the Secretary, may be reasonably required for the support of a 
family upon the lands in question; also of the charges which shall be made 
per acre upon the said entries, and upon lands in private ownership which may 
be irrigated by the waters of the said irrigation project, and the number of 
annual installments, not exceeding ten, in which such charges shall be paid 
and the time when such payments shall commence. The said charges shall be 
determined with a view of returning to the reclamation fund the estimated cost 
of construction of the project and shall be apportioned equitably: Provided^ 
That in all construction work eight hours shall constitute a day’s work, and no 
Mongolian labor shall be employed thereon. 

Section 5 provides that the entryman shall reclaim at least one- 
half of his irrigable area for agricultural purposes and that the 
annual installments shall be paid to the receivers of the local land 
office and that all moneys received shall be paid into the reclamation 
fund. 

t By section 6 the Secretary of the Interior is directed to use the 
reclamation fund for the operation and maintenance of all reser¬ 
voirs and irrigation works constructed under the provisions of the 
act; and when the payments for the major part of the lands irri¬ 
gated are made, the management and operation of the works shall 


TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


69 


pass to the owners of the lands to be maintained at their expense, 
under such forms of regulation as may be acceptable to the Secre¬ 
tary of the Interior; but the title to and the management and opera¬ 
tion of the reservoirs and works necessary for their protection and 
reservation shall remain in the Government until otherwise provided 
by Congress. 

Section 7 provides that where it is necessary to acquire any rights 
or property the Secretary may acquire them by purchase or con¬ 
demnation, and may pay from the reclamation fund the sums which 
may be needed for that purpose. 

Section 8 provides that the act shall not be construed as affecting 
the laws of the State or Territory concerning irrigation or the right 
of any State or Territory or water user in interstate streams or the 
water thereof. 

Section 9 requires the Secretary to expend, as far as practicable and 
subject to the existence of feasible irrigation projects, the major 
portion of the funds arising from the sale of public lands with each 
State and Territory for the benefit of arid and semiairid landsl 
therein, but authorizes him to use the funds in any State or Terri¬ 
tory named in the act, and requires that the excess shall be restored 
to the fund as soon as practicable, so that the expenditures shall, in 
any event,*within each 10-year period after the passage of the act 
be equalized as far as practicable. 

The tenth section authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to per¬ 
form any and all acts and to make such rules and regulations as may 
be necessary and proper for the purpose of carrying the provisions 
of the act into full force and effect. 

You state that: 

Under the provisions of this act nnmerons withdrawals were made and irri¬ 
gation works constructed or begun. The receipts from the sales of the public 
lands and construction charges collectible from completed projects not creat¬ 
ing a sufficient fund to carry on and complete the projects initiated, the Secre¬ 
tary of the Interior by regulations dated February 21, 1908, as amended May 
28, 1908, directed that upon determination by the engineer of the Reclamation 
Service in charge of a reclamation project that certain work is to be done, he 
should, by contract with the water users or settlers association, or if there be 
no such organization, with a representative committee of settlers, whereby it 
or they were to perform work or furnish materials upon or for such uncom¬ 
pleted divisions of the project as would most effectively expedite the comple¬ 
tion of the work and insure the best financial results. In carrying out this 
arrangement it was provided that the Reclamation Service for and on behalf 
of the United States and the association, or committee of the settlers, should 
enter into a contract whereunder the association or settlers were to advertise 
for competitive bids to secure the work on the project or a portion of the 
project, to be done at the lowest possible rates, competition to be waived in 
specific cases. The work so performed was required to be under the direct 
supervision and approval of the reclamation engineer, and settlements for 
the work done were to be in the form of certificates which, when approved by the 
project engineer, should be receivable in reduction of water-right charges levied 
by the Secretary of the Interior under the reclamation act. Each person per¬ 
forming work or furnishing materials or supplies under such a contract is re¬ 
quired to file a stipulation or agreement to the effect that no cash will be paid for 
such work or materials or supplies, “ but in lieu thereof settlements shall be made 
and accepted by the issuance of certificates setting forth the value thereof, 
which shall be receivable in reduction of charges on lands in this reclamation 
project, in accordance with regulations approved by the Secretary of the In¬ 
terior.” 

Upon certification by the engineer in charge as to the satisfactory completion 
of a definite section or portion of the work, or upon delivery or acceptance of 
supplies and materials, the association or settlers execute, in duplicate, certifi- 


70 


TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


cates which, in substance, are to the effect that work has been done or materials 

or supplies furnished to the value of $-upon the-project, and that 

the amount will be credited on installments due or to become due for water 
rights on lands held or entered under the project, and may be credited both upon 
building and operation and maintenance charges. Duplicate certificates are 
issued and registered in the local office of the Reclamation Service. The regu¬ 
lations further provide for the surrender of these certificates, and upon their 
being found correct and unaltered and the amount surrendered found to be 
equal to one or more installments of the water-right charges or operation and 
maintenance charges, the reclamation engineer accepts the certificate and issues 
a receipt acknowledging the surrender of the described certificates for work 
performed and materials delivered. Where the amount of certificate sur¬ 
rendered is not equivalent to a full installment the balance is required to be 
paid in cash. The canceled certificates are then forwarded to the Director of 
the Reclamation Service, with recommendation that the water-right charges 
against the lands of the person surrendering the certificate be reduced by an 
amount corresponding to the value of the certificate. If found to be correct 
the Secretary of the Interior, upon recommendation of the director, gives no¬ 
tice of the reduction of the water-right charges on the lands accordingly, and 
directs the Commissioner of the Ceneral Land Office to accept and receive the 
charges payable on the lands as reduceil by the certificates surrendered. 

You fiH’ther state: 

* * * that for a number of years the people of Grand Valley, Colo., have 

been urging the Government to construct a high-line ditch in that valley to 
irrigate lands above the level of a private ditch now in operation there. The 
water users’ association, purporting to represent the people, finally agreed to 
secure subscription among the people interested to aid the Government in the 
construction of the project, sufficient funds for that purpose not being avail¬ 
able in the reclamation fund. The informal understanding with the people was 
that upon their cooperation the construction of the project would be taken up 
immediately. In February, 1909, the Grand Valley Water Users Association 
submitted a showing to the effect that subscriptions for cooperative work in 
constructing this project had been made to it of $90,000 in money and about 
$40,000 in promised work, a total of about $130,000. The association asked, 
that the Government allot $125,000 from the money in the reclamation fund 
for use during the year 1909, which, with allowmeiit previously made and the 
subscription from the association, would make a total available sum of $330,000. 
The estimated total cost of the project is $2,500,000. 

Upon the consideration of the matter my predecessor, acting for the United 
States, and the Grand Valley Water Users Association, on February 20, ]909, 
entered into a contract which recited that as the United States contemplates 
the construction of certain irrigation works for the irrigation of such lands as 
may be found feasible in Grand.Valley, and the association is desirous of co¬ 
operating with the United States, in order that the project may be sooner 
begun, and has for the purpose secured subscriptions, money, and labor exceed¬ 
ing $125,000, it was agreed that the association should make available for con¬ 
struction the money and labor so subscribed, and the Secretary of the Interior 
should allot $125,000 from the reclamation fund, to be used upon said project 
to an extent equal to the amount of subscriptions made available by the asso¬ 
ciation in money and work. The moneys collected by the association were to 
be deposited in banks in Colorado, subject to the check of the treasurer of the 
association when countersigned by the fiscal agent of the Reclamation Service 
assigned to the project. The association was authorized to give to persons- 
subscribing money for the puniose indicated a receipt or certificate to the 
effect that the payor or his assignee after the application of the money to the 
cost of construction would be entitled to receive from the association cooi)era- 
tion certificates to the amount of the moneys paid by him. The association 
was further authorized to contract for such work -and material as might be 
requested by the project engineer and upon completion of the work or furnish¬ 
ing and accepting of the materials the engineer is to submit to the association 
accounts showing by whom the work was done or materials furnished, and 
thereafter the project engineer of the Reclamation Service is to register co¬ 
operative certificates equal to the total of the accounts and deliver the same to 
the persons who paid in money upon calls issued by the association. The agree¬ 
ment provides that these cooi)erative certificates are not to be redeemed in 
money by the United States, but will be accepted and applied at their face 




TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


71 


value in reduction installments of water-right charges hereafter to accrue 
against the lands within the project. The agreement further provided that the 
certificates might be redeemed by the association in cash, secured by assess¬ 
ments against all land under the project or with funds derived from its first 
assessment for the collection of charges announced in the public notice by the 
Secretary of the Interior. 

Section 10 of the agreement provides that only those who are or may become 
members of the water users’ association will be accepted as applicants for 
rights to use the water under the proposed works and that no applications for 
water rights will be accepted by the United States until the secretary of the 
water users’ association certifies that the applicant has subscribed for stock 
of the association for the lands and paid all assessments levied against said 
stock. 

' You further state that— 

I 

* * * prior to the initiation of the project the Grand Mesa Land, Canal 

& Power Co. had filed on 1,200 second-feet of water from the Grand River, to 
be used upon irrigable lands on both sides of the river in Grand Valley. About 
the time of the initiation of the irrigation project by the United States in Grand 
Valley, my predecessor approved a contract or agreement wherennder the Gov¬ 
ernment abandoned so much of its project as related to Orchard Mesa south 
of Grand River, so as to permit the construction of a private irrigation ditch 
through that area and the construction company having the matter in charge 
transferred to the United States one-half of the stock of the Grand Mesa Land, 
Canal & Power Co., the purpose of the transfer being to secure the United 
States against any claim on the part of the Orchard Construction Co., owner 
of all the stock of the Grand Mesa Co., or the Orchard Mesa irrigation district, 
to the use of the water of Grand River in expess of the amount needed for 
their project. It was agreed in the contract relating to Orchard Mesa that if 
the United States should decide not to construct the Grand Valley project the 
stock in question should be returned to the Orchard Construction Co. 

The latter company is now before the department offering to construct irriga¬ 
tion works on the north side of the river should the Government abandon the 
project and the stock above described be returned. 

In view of this statement of facts, the first inquiry you make to 
me is— 

Whether, in view of the provisions of the reclamation act hereinabove set 
out, expressly providing as to how funds for construction of irrigation works 
are to be maintained and forbidding the letting of contracts for construction 
until the necessary funds are available in the reclamation fund, and of the re¬ 
quirement that the charges Shall be so assessed as to return the entire esti¬ 
mated cost of construction to that fund, this department has any right to 
recognize or enter into contracts with voluntary water users’ associations or 
individuals whereunder they shall enter into partnership or cooperate with 
the United States in the performance of work or furnishing of money, supplies, 
or materials to be used in the construction of reclamation works under the 
act of June IT, 1902, supra. 

Looking to the act itself, I find little difficulty in its construction. 

The objects of the act are clearly expressed. It appropriates the 
proceeds of the sale of public lands in certain States and Territories 
for the construction of irrigation works for the reclamation of arid 
and semiarid lands. These proceeds constitute a fund known as the 
reclamation fund, by the use of which the Secretary of the Interior 
can develop this project. The whole scheme is based upon and limited 
in its extent to the proceeds of the sale and disposal of the public 
lands. No further appropriation by the Government is made or 
indicated. The plan is in furtherance of the principles of the home¬ 
stead laws, to improve the character of these undesirable lands for 
settlers. The Secretary could withdraw from public entry, except 
from homestead laws, lands susceptible of irrigation; and public 
lands proposed to be irrigated are subject to entry only under the 
homestead laws. (Sec. 3.) 


72 


TKUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


The manner of the use of the fund is explicitly stated. A¥hen the 
Secretary of the Interior has determined that a project is practicable 
he may cause to be let contracts for construction of such portions or 
sections as it may be practicable to construct and complete as parts 
of the whole project, providing the necessary funds for such por¬ 
tions or sections are available m the reclamation fund. This is a 
plain declaration of the authority conferred upon the Secretary. 
By the terms of this statute he can not commence any construction 
of any portion of the work unless the necessary funds are available 
in the “ reclamation fund.” There is no ambiguity in these terms. 
The funds must either be in the “ reclamation fund ” or definitely 
provided for from sales of public lands. To make this more posi¬ 
tive the statute further says, after providing for the charges which 
shall be made upon the lands and the time of their payment, that 
these charges shall be determined with a view of returning to the 
reclamation fund the estimated cost of construction of the project. 

The whole intention of the act upon its face is to give to the Secre¬ 
tary of the Interior the power to construct and maintain certain irri¬ 
gation works by the use of a fund derived as I have stated. He is 
limited in the exercise of his powers by the law. If the law has de¬ 
fined those powers he can not act beyond that limit. His acts would 
be without authority. 

In considering an inquiry as to the authority of an officer to bind 
the Government, the Supreme Court, in the Floyd Acceptances (T 
Wall. 666, 6T6), said: 

The answer, which at once suggests itself to one familiar with the structure 
of our GoYernment, in which all power is delegated, and is defined by law, 
constitutional or statutory, is, that to one or both of these sources we must 
resort in every instance. We have no officers in this Government, from the 
President down to the most subordinate agent, who does not hold office under 
the law, with prescribed duties and limited authority, and while some of these, 
as the President, the Legislature, and the Judiciary, exercise powers in some 
sense left to the more general definitions necessarily incident to fundamental 
law found in the Constitution, the larger portion of them are the creation of 
statutory law, with duties and powers prescribed and limited by that law. 

These observations are of special force when applied to a series of 
rules and regulations as in this case. Being intended to be appli¬ 
cable as general rules, where a new and specific authority is given to 
the officer, all the Secretary can do is to regulate the mode of pro¬ 
ceeding to carry out what Congress has enacted. He can not alter 
or amend the law. (Morrill v, Jones, 106 U. S. 466, 467.) 

No further extension of his powers is granted by the tenth section, 
by wffiich he is authorized to perform any and all acts and to make 
such rules and regulations as may be necessary and proper for the 
purposes of carrying the provisions of the act into full force and 
effect. This does not warrant him to import into the act authority 
to obtain any other means to construct irrigation works than those 
stated. The act is an appropriation of money obtained in a specific 
way for a specific purpose. That that purpose can be more fully 
accomplished in a different way does not confer upon the officer the 
power to direct that way. That would be to amend the law, which 
is not the office of a departmental regulation. As was said in John¬ 
son V. Southern Pacific Co. (117 Fed. Kep. 465): 

While ambiguous terms and doubtful expressions may be interpreted to 
carry out the intention of a legislative body which a statute fairly evidences, a 


TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


78 


secret intention can not be interpreted into a statute which is plain and unam¬ 
biguous, and which does not express it. The legal presumption is that the 
legislative body expressed its intention, that it intended what it expressed, 
and that it intended nothing more. 

These regulations go far beyond the terms of the statute. By pro¬ 
viding for another fund and another mode of paying for irrigation 
work they amend the act. This contract made under them creates 
a joint action on the part of certain water users Avith the Government 
by which they propose to advance certain moneys and perform work 
in the prosecution of the project. The certificates issued by the 
association and registered by the engineer are transferable; and, 
although not redeemed in money by the United States, entitle the 
holder to a credit for their face value and may be applied in part or 
full payment of the charges against his lands. By this proposed 
scheme the money subscribed is not in, nor does it at any time go 
into the reclamation fund. There is no security that it will be in 
that fund or that the work agreed upon will be done, although the 
Government officer furnishes his proportion. In the sixth section of 
the act it is provided that when the payments are made for the major 
portion of the lands irrigated, the management shall pass to an or¬ 
ganization of the owners. If there had been contemplated any 
previous combination of Avater users provision Avould have been made 
for it. 

I might state other objections to the plan permitted by the regula¬ 
tions, such as the attempted exclusion of all applicants for water 
rights who are not members of the association; but I deem it unneces¬ 
sary, because, in my opinion, the Secretary of the Interior was with¬ 
out authority to enter into contracts of this nature. The regulations 
under which they are drawn, in my opinion, alter materially the 
reclamation act, which, as has been said, can not be done by depart¬ 
mental regulation. 

Your second inquiry is: 

If you find that the law does not authorize or permit such corporation, 
whether the United States is warranted in honoring and accepting all coopera¬ 
tion certificates already issued on the various projects or whether the only 
relief which may be extended to those who have performed labor or furnished 
moneys, materials, or supplies will lie in an act of Congress authorizing the 
payment to them of the money value of such labor, supplies, or materials. 

These certificates, having been issued under an unwarranted con¬ 
tract, can not be received as credits for the charges imposed upon the 
land under the statute. They can not be used by the original payee 
or transferee as a discharge pro tanto of his indebtedness. But they 
are evidence of work performed, proper and necessary in the con¬ 
struction and maintenance of the irrigation Avork, done under the 
supervision and inspection of the chief engineer, and certified to be 
correct, as memoranda for that officer. In this view, I think the 
work may be paid for as upon a quantum meruit, if there are funds 
in the reclamation fund. This may cause confusion by reason of the 
irregularity of the procedure; but, upon familiar principles, would 
seem to be equitable to the persons furnishing the materials and 
work. It precludes the recognition of the association as a joint par¬ 
ticipant in any way. It becomes a transaction between the persons 
performing the services and the officers of the Government charged 
with the duty of construction. If the money necessary does not 


74 


TKUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


come into the reclamation fund in the manner prescribed in the act 
the parties have no remedy except in an application to Congress for 
an appropriation, or for an amended act providing in the way sug¬ 
gested by the contract, or some similar way for credits upon charges 
on the land. 

Your third inquiry is: 

As to the Grand Valley contract, in the light of the foregoing questions and 
in view of the further fact that no work has been done except preliminary 
surveys, that the subscriptions have not been used by the United States and 
the total amount so subscribed, together with the amount apportioned by the 
United States, not being sufficient to complete any portion or section of the 
project, whether said contract can be legally abrogated by the United States 
upon condition that it return to the Orchard Construction Co. the stock in the 
Grand Mesa Land, Canal & Power Co. 

It seems that the Grand Mesa Co. had rights of irrigation, to be 
used on both sides of Grand River in Grand Valley, prior to the 
initiation of the Government project. An agreement was entered 
into by the company with the Secretary of the Interior, by which 
the Government abandoned that part of its project which related to 
the south of Grand River, and permitted the company to construct 
a private irrigation ditch through that area. The company trans¬ 
ferred one-half of its stock to the United States to secure the United 
States against any claim on the part of the company or its associates 
for an excessive use of the water of Grand River. If the United 
States did not proceed with the Grand Valley project the stock was 
to be returned. • 

Under this agreement no obligation rested upon the Government 
to construct the irrigation works in Grand Valley. 

The permission in the agreement to construct a private irrigation 
ditch is immaterial. If that permission was granted in consideration 
of an agreement by the Government not to proceed with a portion 
of its project in that area, the agreement was entered into without 
authority. 

Nothing has been done under the Government project affecting 
this portion of lands. Whether, in the event of the prosecution of 
the Grand Valley project, it might be necessary to acquire the rights 
of this company does not appear. If it should be, the manner of 
doing so is stated in the seventh section of the act. I think this 
would not be affected by a supposed agreement not to operate in the 
lands south of the Grand River if it became necessary to acquire 
rights and property to carry out the provisions of the act. All rights 
of the company, under its incorporation, are recognized and pro¬ 
tected by the eighth section. 

Notwithstanding that the whole contract, as presented to me, may 
be regarded as void, manifestly the stock should be returned to the 
Orchard Construction Co. Joint control and operation is not recog¬ 
nized in any manner by the statute. The return of the stock can 
not be conditional upon an abandonment by the Government of any 
part of the proposed project. It simply leaves the parties, the Gov¬ 
ernment and the company, where they were before the signing of 
this “ contract.” 

You ask: 

* * * to be further advised whether in view of the provisions of section 1 
of the reclamation act, which provides a fund for the construction and main¬ 
tenance of irrigation works, and of section 6, which provides that the manage- 


TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


75 


ment and operation of the works shall pass to the owners of the lands irrigated 
to be maintained “at their expense” after construction charges have been 
paid for the major part of the lands irrigated, whether the United States is 
warranted under the law in exacting from water-right applicants and entrymen 
prior to such time annual payments for maintenance and operation of the reser¬ 
voirs, ditches, and canals in the project wherein the lands lie. The present 
practice is to fix a definite charge per acre in each project to cover the cost of 
construction and to assess annually a specific amount per acre for operation 
and maintenance, collecting the same from the land owners. 

I think the practice of the department is correct. The reclamation 
fund is, among other things, for the construction and maintenance 
of the irrigation works. It is true that by the fourth section the 
charges shall be determined with a view to returning the estimated 
cost of the construction. The act may be fairly construed to include 
in the fund charges for maintenance. Especially is this inferable 
when it is apparent from the language of the sixth section that when 
the management and operation shall pass to the owners of the irri¬ 
gated lands the expenses of maintenance are to be paid by them. 
These expenses are clearly the same as were theretofore paid by the 
Government out of the reclamation fund. Unless they had been 
charges upon the land and collectible as such, the fund, which, by 
the theory of the reclamation plan is to be used in constructing other 
works, would be kept intact. The present practice of the depart¬ 
ment prevents the fund from being diminished and leaves it avail¬ 
able for the intended purposes. 

Referring to several statutes providing for the opening of certain 
Indian reservations to settlement and entry and extending the 
reclamation to lands thereon, you request to be advised as to whether 
your department “ has the right to exact the payment of maintenance 
or operation charges from settlers, entrymen, and private land 
owners within reclamation projects prior to the time when payments 
have been made for the major portion of the lands irrigated.” 

Without reciting the language of those statutes, I think their ob¬ 
ject, in this respect, was to extend the irrigation provision of the act 
of June 17, 1902, to the Indian lands. 

In some cases the fund is raised, originally, in a different manner 
from that provided in that act, inasmuch as money is appropriated 
for the purposes of construction. In others it is obtained in a way 
similar to that of the general act. But always the costs are paid from 
the proceeds of the sales of lands; and in the case of advancements 
the sums advanced are to be thus reimbursed. 

I am of the opinion the practice referred to by you is also the 
correct one in the reclamation projects on these Indian reservations. 
Indeed, it is clearly approved by Congress. Thus, on the Yakima 
Reservation, the Secretary is authorized to cover into the reclamation 
fund the money of the Indians for payment of charges for construc¬ 
tion and maintenance for the water rights appurtenant to the land 
retained by him, or for the annual maintenance charges payable on 
account of such water rights after the construction charge thereon 
has been paid in full. And on the Fort Peck Reservation, where the 
Secretary of the Interior is authorized to construct irrigation projects, 
all applicants for water rights may be required to pay such annual 
charges for operation and maintenance as shall be fixed by the Secre¬ 
tary, and the Secretary is authorized to fix the time for the begin¬ 
ning of such payments and to provide such rules and regulations 


76 


TRUCKEE-CAESON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


thereto as he may deem proper. The Indian allottee is not required 
to contribute to the cost of construction, but his lands must bear their 
pro rata share of the cost of operation and maintenance, and the 
Secretary withholds his moneys to pay such charges. (35 Stat., 552.) 

The distinction is made between costs of construction and costs 
of maintenance, but both are recognized as payable from a charge 
upon the land. 

The right to the use of water acquired under the provisions of this 
act shall be appurtenant to the land irrigated, and beneficial use shall 
be the basis, the measure, and the limit of the right. It is entirely 
reasonable that the water user should pay for the use from the time 
the water is delivered upon the land, which is, as I understand, all 
that is required of him. 

This is made more definite in these Indian acts than it appears in 
the general act. As I think that the authority of the Secretary of 
the Interior is ample to determine the ‘‘ limitations, charges, terms, 
and conditions provided in the act,” and that charges for main¬ 
tenance, together with the time of their commencement, are the sub¬ 
ject of reasonable regulation, as well as charges for construction, in all 
cases unless otherwise provided, I am of opinion that the Secretary 
has the right to exact the payment you refer to. 

Very respectfully, 

Geo. W. Wickersham, 

Attorney General, 


June 9, i909. 

The honorable the Secretary of Agriculture. 

Sir : Your instructions of May 22 for my advice in relation to the 
proposed contract between the Truckee Kiver General Electric Co. 
and the Eeclamation Service, transmitted to you by letter of the 
Secretary of the Interior, dated May —, 1909, have been called 
to my attention on my return to Washington. The papers do not 
clearly show the purpose or effect of the proposed transaction, but, 
from scrutiny of them and from the results of informal inquiry at 
the Eeclamation Service, it seems that two physical changes in the 
outlet of Lake Tahoe are contemplated: 

First. Improved dam and outlet gates where the lake discharges 
into the Truckee Eiver. 

Second. A tunnel which will afford artificial outlet by an entirely 
different route. 

The improved dam and gates at the natural outlet will make possi¬ 
ble a much larger discharge than is now possible, so that floods occur¬ 
ring when the lake is full can be safely and immediately discharged 
into the river. This can not now be done, and therefore as a measure 
of safety the lake is not allowed to fill up, and much water is wasted 
that would be saved by the new dam and gates at the natural outlet. 

The artificial outlet (tunnel) will furnish much more power (be¬ 
cause of the more rapid and more available fall below the mouth of 
the tunnel) than is now developed by the company from a flow of 
500 cubic feet per second at the power plants on the river between the 
lake and the point where the artificial outlet will discharge into the 
river. 

The company owns the land and the present works at the natural 
outlet, and will construct and own the proposed new works there, but 



TBUCKEE-CAKSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


77 


these works will be operated by and at the expense of the United 
States in such manner as to give the company the 500 cubic feet per 
second flow necessary for the operation of the five power plants 
above mentioned until the new outlet, tunnel, and plant are ready for 
operation. 

The company will construct the tunnel and other works needed 
for the new outlet, and will be given in perpetuity the right to use 
the flow thereof for power purposes and to acquire certain reservoir 
sites in or partly in the National Forests for such purposes. There is 
no express provision that the old power sites are to be relinquished 
when these new ones are acquired. The provision is that when the 
company shall relieve the Government from its “ guarantee ” to 
furnish the amounts now required for the existing plants on the 
Truckee Kiver and shall assume the responsibility of satisfying all 
vested rights on the river above Clarks Station (which is above the 
head of the reclamation canal), then the Government agrees to deliver 
water to it at the new outlet. No information is furnished as to the 
comparative producing capacity and value of the old and new power 
sites. There is no provision for the conveyance to the United States 
of the dam, gates, and riparian lands at the natural outlet. The con¬ 
tract does not specify where the artificial outlet is to be constructed. 
No information is given as to the exact location of the five power 
plants now operated by the company, as to whether they are situated 
upon public or private lands, nor, if upon public lands, as to the title 
by which the company claims them, but the use of the word “ fac¬ 
tories ” to describe them in the contract suggests the question whether 
they are claimed as rights of way under the act of July 26, 1866 
(Rev. Stat., sec. 2339). It is doubtful whether the benefits of that act 
extend to hydroelectric power companies generating electric power 
for sale. 

The National Forest does not include the lake itself, but surrounds 
it on three sides and comprises the greater part of its watershed. 
The natural outlet and the proposed artificial outlet are within the 
National Forest, though the former is on private land. It is infor¬ 
mally stated that the latter will also be entirely on private land, but 
the contract does not so specify. 

Section 7 of the contract permits the location of the power plant or 
plants, with appurtenances and connections, upon land “ owned or 
controlled by the United States,” and provides for free use of such 
land “ to carry pipes, tracks, and roadways, to place poles, and to run 
wires under ground or overhead,” etc. This language seems to au¬ 
thorize the location of transmission lines through the National Forest 


In order to satisfy the vested rights on the Truckee River above the 
head of the Truckee-Carson irrigation canal, it is evidently the inten¬ 
tion to authorize the company to obtain a supplementary supply of 
water by storage on tributaries of the Truckee not connected with 
Lake Tahoe and within the exterior boundaries of the National 
Forest. It also appears to be contemplated that the company may 
erect power plants on these tributaries, subject only to the terms of 


this contract. , , i ^ a* 

The contract, therefore, undoubtedly contemplates the use ot na¬ 
tional-forest lands for storage and power purposes, but how much is 
left entirely indeterminate. It apparently proposes to give the com- 


78 


TEUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


pany these rights in perpetuity. I am unable to find any authority 
under which the Secretary of the Interior can bind the United States 
by this perpetual contract. No provisions of the reclamation act of 
June 17, 1902 (32 Stat., 388), are referred to in this connection, and I 
have been unable to find any language giving him such authority. I 
am advised that the only statutes under which rights of way over the 
public lands and in the national forests for the generation of electric 
power for general purposes of commercial sale, can be acquired are 
the act of May 14,1896 (29 Stat., 120), amending the act of January 
21,1895, and the act of February 15, 1901 (31 Stat., 790). These acts 
provide for the granting of a mere permission or license for use, and 
do not involve the title to the land. The latter act is regarded for 
purposes of administration as superseding the former. By the forest 
transfer act of February 1, 1905 (33 Stat., 628), and the agreement 
made thereunder between the Department of the Interior and the 
Department of Agriculture, permits for rights of way under the act 
of February 15, 1901, within national forests, fall within the juris¬ 
diction of the Secretary of Agriculture. 

It is not believed that any perpetual rights can be granted under 
this act. The last clause reads as follows: 


And provided further, That any permission given by the Secretary of the 
Interior (now the Secretary of Agriculture) under the provisions of this act 
may be revoked by him or his successor, in his discretion, and shall not be held 
to confer any right, or easement, or interest in, to, or over any public land, 
reservation, or park. 


In granting permits to electric power companies under this statute, 
the Forest Service has entered into contracts covering periods of 50 
years at the utmost, and even as to these it is not supposed that the 
power of revocation is legally taken away. 

I am of the opinion that full and specific information should be 
obtained as to the comparative value of the rights proposed to be 
given through this contract by the United States to the company, and 
by the company to the United States, and that a field examination be 
undertaken for this purpose and to ascertain whether the proposed 
contract would not give the company a practical monopoly of power 
in this region. The Forest Service has available for such an exami¬ 
nation the services of an able hydraulic engineer, who is now within 
easy reach of Lake Tahoe. I think that the contract should be re¬ 
drawn in such manner as to show clearly and definitely the transac¬ 
tion proposed and the mutual advantages to be derived from it by the 
respective parties; that the power rights to be acquired by the com¬ 
pany should be permitted by the Secretary of Agriculture under the 
act of February 15,1901, and that in the permit a specific time limita¬ 
tion be incorporated, together with the other conditions usually im¬ 
posed in power permits. It is of the first importance that no rights 
be granted in perpetuity for the exploitation of the power resources 
now in the control of the Nation, and that no claim as to such rights 
hitherto asserted or acquired without authority of law be acquiesced 
in or validated. 

I return the inclosures contained in your letter of May 22, and also 
send you a general form of contract employed by the Forest Service 
in dealing with the hydroelectric power companies. 

Very respectfully, 


Gifford Pinchot, 

Forester, 


TRUCKEE-CAESON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 79 

[Memoraudum for Mr, Wells.] 

June 10, 1909. 

The Truckee Eiver General Electric Co. has a capital of $3,000,000. 
Until recently a majority of the stock was owned and controlled by 
the Fleischhackers, of San Francisco, M. Fleischhacker being presi¬ 
dent and H. Fleischhacker being first vice president. 

Kecently an option on the majority stock held by W. P. Hammon 
(probably of Oroville, Cal.) was exercised in favor of “Eastern 
parties.” These parties are understood to be Stone & Webster, of 
Boston. Mr. Bien tells me that it was with them or their representa¬ 
tive that the Reclamation Service dealt in making this contract. 

I know W. P. Hammon. He is a large gold-dredging promoter 
and operator, and the last I knew of him his principal operations 
were in the Oroville field. He carried through a big deal by which 
several dredging companies there were consolidated and sold to an 
English syndicate. John Hayes Hammond got the English in. 
W. P. Hammon is also interested in the Quincy Mining and Water 
Co. in the Plumas National Forest. 

All the dredges at Oroville are operated by electric power, and my 
impression is that it comes from a plant on the American River, just 
over the crest of the Sierras from Lake Tahoe. This plant on the 
American River is, or was, controlled by the Fleischhackers. 

It seems possible that both projects may ultimately have to do with 
the Harriman scheme to electrify the Southern Pacific Railway Co. 
over the mountains. This is only my guess. 

W. W. Dyar. 


[Tahoe National Forest, California and Nevada. (Fourth Proclamation.) No. 870.] 

June 10, 1909. 

A Procuamation by the President or the United States or 

America. 

Whereas an Executive order dated July second, nineteen hundred 
and eight consolidated portions of the Tahoe, Stanislaus, and Plumas 
National Forests under the name of the Tahoe National Forest; 

And whereas it appears that the public good will be promoted by 
adding to the Tahoe National Forest certain lands within the States 
of California and Nevada which are in part covered with timber; 

Now, therefore, I, Theodore Roosevelt, President of the United 
States of America, by virtue of the power in me vested by the act of 
Congress approved June fourth, eighteen hundred and ninety-seven, 
entitled “An act making appropriations for sundry civil expenses of 
the Government for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, eighteen 
hundred and ninety-eight, and for other purposes,” do proclaim that 
the Tahoe National Forest is hereby enlarged and that its boundaries 
are as shown on the diagram forming a part hereof. 

The withdrawal made by this proclamation shall, as to all lands 
which are at this date legally appropriated under the public-land 
laws or reserved for any public purpose, be subject to, and shall not 
interfere with or defeat legal rights under such appropriation, nor 



80 


TEUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


prevent the use for such public purpose of lands so reserved, so long 
as such appropriation is legally maintained or such reservation re¬ 
mains in force. 

This proclamation shall not prevent the settlement and entry oi any 
lands heretofore opened to settlement and entry under the act of 
Congress approved June eleventh, nineteen hundred and six, entitled 
“An act to provide for the entry of agricultural lands within forest 
reserves.” 

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the 
seal of the United States to be affixed. 

Done at the city of Washington this second day of March, in the 
year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and nine, and of the 
Independence of the United States the one hundred and thirty-third. 

[seal.] Theodore Koosevelt. 

By the President. 

Egbert Bacon, 

Secretary of State. 


[Telegram.] 

Washington, D. C., June 12^ 1909. 

Gifford Pinchot, 

Care J. E. Garfield, 

^Yest Mentor^ Ohio: 

Letter to Secretary regarding proposed use Lake Tahoe, Eeclama- 
tion Service, mailed you for signature 9th. Important you sign and 
return or Interior will probably act before letter is received. 

Price. 


[Telegram.] 


Price, Forestry.^ Washington^ D. G.: 

Let. not received. Will make inquiry 


Mentor, Ohio, June F2. 

and sign when found. 

Pinchot. 


June 15, 1909. 

The honorable the Secretary of the Interior. 

Sir: In order to expedite the consideration of the proposed con¬ 
tract between the Truckee Eiver General Electric Co. and the Eecla- 
mation Service of your department, transmitted with your letter 
of May 20, I placed in your hands this morning the report of the 
Forester upon this contract, dated June 9. I am now writing to 
indorse in every particular the views expressed by the Forester with 
regard to the proposed contract in order that my objection to it upon 
these grounds may be of official record in your department. I have 
the honor to be, sir. 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

James Wilson, Secretary. 





TEUCKEE-CAKSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


81 


Department of the Interior, 

United States Reclamation Service, 

Office of the Director, 

- ^ ^ Washington^ D. (7., June IS, 1909. 

Mr. Overton Price, 

Acting Forester, Forest Service, Washington, D. C. 

Dear Sir : Some time ago the Secretary of the Interior sent to the 
Secretary of Agriculture a draft of proposed contract ^ regarding 
the control of the waters of Lake Tahoe. Since that time there have 
been a number of discussions of the matter and the contract has been 
radically amended, as shown by the accompanying copy. It is 
exceedingly important to us to have a definite agreement reached 
at as early a date as practicable, and I hope that the changes as 
now made will meet the objections which have previously been 
entertained. 

Kindly have this copy studied, and, if possible, formulate any 
objections, so that we can consider them informally at a meeting at 
10 a. m. on Wednesday, June 16. 

Very truly, yours, F. D. Newell, Director. 


Department of the Interior, 

United States Reclamation Service, 

Office of the Director, 
Washington, D. C., June 21^, 1909. 

Mr. A. C. Shaw, Forest Service. 

Dear Sir: In compliance with my promise to you of yesterday I 
send under another cover blue print showing Lake Tahoe, Washoe 
reservoir, the line of proposed tunnel, and other information in con¬ 
nection with the Lake Tahoe contract regarding storage for the 
Truckee-Carson project, Nevada. 

Very truly, yours, Morris Bien, 

Supervising Engineer. 


June 28, 1909. 

District Forester, 

San~ Francisco, Gal. 

Dear Olmsted: I inclose two copies of a proposed agreement be¬ 
tween the Truckee River General Electric Co. and the United States. 
The first copy is marked “ Original draft,” and the second is marked 
“ Substitute draft.” I also inclose a copy of a letter of the Secretary 
of the Interior, dated May —, concerning the original agreement, and 
a copy of the Forester’s letter of June 9 to the Secretary of Agri¬ 
culture reporting upon this agreement. I have indicated on the plat 
of the National Forest the location of the proposed tunnel between 
Lake Tahoe and Washoe Reservoir. I also inclose a copy of the letter 


LSee p. 60. 

23914°—H. Doc. 451, 62-2-6 





82 


TEUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


of the Secretary of Agriculture, dated June 15, indorsing the For¬ 
ester’s report. In consequence of the Forester’s letter of June 9 and 
tlie Secretary’s letter of June 15 the Secretary of the Interior pre¬ 
pared the substitute draft. He has submitted this to Mr. Wallace, 
representative of the Truckee River General Electric Co., for execu¬ 
tion by the company. I am informally told that this agreement will 
probably be submitted to Secretary Ballinger upon the ground at 
Lake Tahoe in the near future, and that he will probably sign it. 

I inclose a copy of a memorandum of June 10, signed by Mr. Dyar, 
and a copy of a map prepared by the Director of the Reclamation 
Service, which shows the proposed tunnel and how the level of 
Washoe Reservoir is to be raised. You will see by referring to para¬ 
graphs 4 and 9, pages 4 and 10, respectively, that the agreement pro¬ 
poses to bind the United States to care perpetually for the outlet 
works on Lake Tahoe, and proposes to allow the Truckee River Gen¬ 
eral Electric Co. to use all of the power in the flood waters of Lake 
Tahoe, which the agreement says have been appropriated by the 
United States. The purpose of the proposed tunnel is to divert 
such flood waters and turn them into the irrigation project after 
they leave Washoe Reservoir; but to take the power from the AYashoe 
Reservoir and carry it to Floriston and other places named in the 
contract to satisfy the vested rights in the waters which are now 
being taken from Lake Tahoe down Truckee River, it will be neces¬ 
sary to cross forest lands. 

The agreement further proposes, in paragraph 7, page 8, to allow 
the company to flood other lands of the United States to secure water 
and power to satisfy the vested rights along Truckee River. If it 
builds the tunnels and satisfies the vested rights by constructing 
reservoirs on the tributaries to the Truckee River it Avill largely in¬ 
crease the amount of power in that vicinity, and since this power 
will all haA^e to cross the forest, it is all protected by the forest. 
Some of it has probably not been appropriated by the company, and 
I fear that the public interests Avill suffer, since it seems probable the 
company will not surrender rights or perform acts which fairly com¬ 
pensate the United States. The phrase “ in accordance Avith and 
subject to the laws of the United States,” which appears, and Avhich 
I have underscored Avith pencil, in paragraph 7, pages 8 and 9, is 
alleged by officials of the Department of the Interior to have been 
inserted for the purpose of expressing an intention not to bind the 
United States to alloAv any rights of Avay across forest lands, except 
upon permission of the Secretary of Agriculture or the Forester, 
and the same purpose is given for the insertion of the proviso on 
page 8, also marked in pencil. I understand informally that the 
company insisted upon this insertion, and I can see no purpose in 
it, unless it is that the company supposes that the poAver in the sur¬ 
plus waters of Lake Tahoe and the poAver in the water of the tribu¬ 
taries of Truckee River may be disposed of by the Secretary of the 
Interior in accordance with section 5 of the act of April 16, 1906 
(34 Stat., 117). The contract seems to contemplate a permanent 
right, whereas the act only provides for a lease for 10 years. NeA^er- 
theless, I am of the opinion that the company is endeavoring to se¬ 
cure some equities under this act. 

The Forest Service feels that the indefinite character of the agree¬ 
ment is another objection to it, and it feels that the execution of it 


TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


83 


should be delayed until the service has full information as to the 
effect of the agreement. The Reclamation Service claims that there 
is no vacant land on the margin of Lake Tahoe. Please institute at 
the earliest possible moment a thorough field examination to ascer¬ 
tain the comparative value of the rights proposed to be surrendered 
by the United States under the proposed contract and the rights to 
be surrendered by the company; and also whether the contract would 
tend to make a monopoly of power in that region successful. If Mr. 
Maltby is available, I think you should use him for this investiga¬ 
tion, and should let your# engineer assist him. You should feel free 
to ask local reclamation officials for any information as to the flow 
of streams, appropriation of water, or other matters. Please let me 
know as soon as possible about when the report may be expected. 

Please return the blue print with your report. 

Very sincerely, yours, 

Overton W. Price, 

Associate Forester. 


[Telegram.] 

U. S. Department of Agriculture, 

Forest Service, 

Washington., D. U, July IS., 1909. 

Olmsted, San Francisco^ Cal.: 

Do not know that Secretary of Interior has approved new contract 
Truckee General Electric Co. Understand he contemplated exami¬ 
nation on ground prior to approval. Please investigate fully, as 
suggested by letter June 8. Write or wire any suggestion. Letter 
fully explaining situation follows. 

Shaw. 


[Telegram.] 

San Francisco, Cal., July 13., 1909. 

PiNCHOT, 

Forest Service^ ashing ton., D. C.: 

Has Secretary of Interior already approved new contract Truckee 
General Electric Co.? 

Olmsted. 


(Personal.) July 14, 1909. 

District Forester, 

San Francisco., Cal. 

Dear Olmsted : Your telegram of July 13 is received. A reply was 
sent you yesterday. I understand that the Secretary of the Interior 
intended, when he left Washington about June 25, to visit Lake 
Tahoe, and, if conditions found by him showed no reason for a modi¬ 
fication of the new contract, that it was his intention that the instru¬ 
ment should be executed by the applicant and himself in the field. 
I do not know what has been done. 

The position taken by the Department of the Interior is, I believe, 
that the proposed new agreement grants no rights upon the forest. 





84 


TKUCKEE-CAKSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


and that it is not necessary to submit it to the Department of Agri¬ 
culture for further consideration. For this reason I do not feel that 
it is necessary or proper for the Forest Service to inquire at the De¬ 
partment of the Interior to learn whether the agreement has really 
been executed. If it is executed, and the company should undertake 
to assert any rights upon the forest, it would then become incumbent 
upon the Forest Service to act. In the meantime I wish to secure all 
information possible which may concern the permit. If your ex¬ 
amination develops any proof which shows that the action con¬ 
templated by the Department of the Interior jeopardizes public 
interests, of course the Secretary would probably feel it his duty to 
call it to the attention of the Secretary of the Interior. 

Very sincerely, yours, 

Overton W. Price, 

Associate Forester. 

Our position is just this: The Secretary has formally protested 
against the proposed contract, and we will stand by that protest, 
and enforce it, too, if the need arises. 


[Telegram.] 

San Francisco, Cal., July 15., 1909. 

Forester, Washington., D. C.: 

Am somewhat familiar with Lake Tahoe region and have carefully 
studied proposed agreement with the Truckee General Electric Co. 
Think it would be mistake to close matter until time is given to go 
into it full agreement. Is contrary to the Government policy in 
dealing with power. Matter important and valuable privileges are 
granted for apparently little return to the Government. Blanket 
permits covering wide extent of territory granting five years in 
which to select reservoir sites and location for power plants, to be 
held thereafter in perpetuity, should in no case be given. Field 
examinations can not be made until plans of the company are re¬ 
vealed, which is not required for five years. No agreement should 
be made that does not designate the location of all works. I expect 
to go to Tahoe on another matter 25th. As to whether the agree¬ 
ment would tend toward creating a power monopoly in that region, 
certainly no other concern could enter the field during the life of the 
blanket permit, and it would be unusual if the company overlooks 
any location of value during the five years in which it has to make 
selections. 

A. W. Maltby. 


I Telegram.] 

U. S. Department of Agriculture, 

Forest Service, 

Woshington., D. C.., July 16., 1909. 

Olmsted, San Francisco, Gal.: 

Maltby’s telegram 15th received. Suggest he examine generally 
watersheds Truckee Kiver and Lake Tahoe in national forest likely 




TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


85 


to be affected by section 7 proposed agreement. Probably impossible 
to secure delay. All information which may be secured by general, 
hasty, but reasonably thorough examination desired to show extent 
of unappropriated waters likely to be affected by section 7, and of 
forest lands likely to be used in connection with power development 
under section 7. Would also appreciate any other information gained 
from field examination to show how proposed agreement affects 
rights of United States and company. 

Price. 


[Telegram.] 

San Francisco, Cal., July 17\ 1909. 

Price, 

Forest Service.^ Washington., D. C.: 

If practicable, please obtain and forward from Reclamation Serv¬ 
ice copies correspondence and any tentative contracts power com¬ 
panies at time Truckee-Carson reclamation project was approved. 

Olmsted. 


[Telegram.] 

San Francisco, Cal., July 17^ 1909. 

Forester, Washington^ D. C.: 

Merrill leaves to-day for Tahoe to consult project engineer and 
make general field examination proposed Truckee General Electric 
contract. Maltby will follow within week, and I leave for Nevada 
City Tuesday. Further consideration proposed. Contract indicates 
extremely bad situation. Please use every effort postpone action 
Washington. 

Olmsted. 


[Telegram.] 

U. S. Department of Agriculture, 

Forest Service, 

Washington., D. C., July 19., 1909. 

Olmsted, San Francisco., Gal.: 

Impracticable to secure papers of suspension suggested in your 
telegrams July 17. Letter follows. 

A. C. Shaw. 


[Telegram.] 

Portland, Oreg., July 19., 1909. 

Forester, Washington., D. C.: 

Can Maltby be assigned immediately this district two weeks. De¬ 
tail extremely important. 

Cecil. 






86 


TEUCKEE-CAKSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


July 19, 1909. 

District Forester, 

San Francisco^ Cal. 

Dear Mr. Olmsted : Since the Secretary of Agriculture has made a 
report to the Secretary of the Interior, which he has neither followed 
nor acknowledged as yet, I do not believe it would be advisable to 
submit to him through the Interior Department the request men¬ 
tioned in your telegrams. 

Very sincerely, 3 murs, A. C. Siiaw, 

Acting Law Officer. 


[Telegram.] 

U. S. Department or Agriculture, 

Forest Service, 

^Yashington.^ D. C.^ July 20,1909. 

AllIen, Portland, Oreg.: 

Maltby on special assignment forester in district 5. Impossible 
assign him district 6 near future. Please write particulars of wmrk. 

Shaw. 


[Telegram.] 


San Francisco, Cal., July 26,1909. 

Forester, Washington, D. C.: 

Keported here Truckee General Electric contract was signed three 
weeks ago. Work on the ground would indicate this is true. Copy 
we have is so loosely drawn would seem it must be only a rough draft. 
Can a cop}^ of the agreement as signed be obtained? It may give 
more definite information as to company’s proposed uses in Tahoe 
National Forest. 

A. W. Maltby. 


July 27, 1909. 

The Secretary of the Interior. 

Sir: In my letter to you, dated June 15, I formally indorsed the 
views and objections expressed by the Forester in his report to me, 
dated June 9, upon the proposed contract between the Department of 
the Interior and the Truckee River General Electric Co. Since the 
contract as originally drawn involves certain national forest interests, 
I have the honor to request that I be informed concerning the action 
taken or proposed in your department and whether the contract has 
been changed so as not to affect national forest interests. To this 
end, if action has been taken, or is definitely contemplated, looking 
to the execution of a contract with the company, I should be glad 
to receive a copy of such contract, if compatible with the public 
interests. 

I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

James Wilson, Secretary. 





TRUCKEE-CAESON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


87 


[Telegram.] 


U. S. Department oe Agriculture, 

Forest Service, 

Washington^ July ^7, 1909, 

A. W. Maltby, 

Care District Forestei^ San Francisco^ Cal.: 

Tahoe contract will probably be signed Secretary Interior to-day. 
yoRi’ hands probably correct, but will mail you copy contract 
as signed soon as obtainable. Please wire fully your present conclu¬ 
sions regarding proposed contract as basis for our action here. As 
further investigation develops new facts, please report fully and 
promptly. 


Overton W. Price. 


[Telegram.] 

San Francisco, Cal., July 28,1909. 

Forester, Washington, D. C.: 

Use of forest lands does not seem absolutely necessary to carrying 
out contract wdth Truckee General Electric Co. Assuming control 
and rights heretofore held by the company at Tahoe-Truckee River 
outlet based on good title and unassailable, then under paragrah 4 
the Government will secure increased water for irrigation purposes 
probably up to the estimate of 200,000 acre-feet, but paragraph 5 
seems to nullify this as I interpret it, requiring only that same amount 
of water to be available for irrigation purposes at Clark Station as 
of the date of signing contract. If this is correct, the Government 
would lose the advantage gained through control and operation pres¬ 
ent Tahoe-Truckee outlet. Since returning from Tahoe, see no rea¬ 
son change views my telegi’am July 15. Contract is unusual, no 
plans being required, and owing to this and the vague and loose man¬ 
ner in which contract is drawn it is difficult to determine the out¬ 
come. If the company avails itself of the rights granted in para¬ 
graph 5 and subsequent paragraphs, would seem no more water would 
be available for irrigation purposes than heretofore. 

A. W. Maltby. 


July 29, 1909. 

[Memorandum for Mr. Price.] 

By letter dated May 19, 1909, the Secretary of the Interior sub¬ 
mitted to the Secretary of Agriculture a proposed agreement between 
Ihe Truckee River General Electric Co. and the Department of the 
Interior, under which the company might rebuild the outlet gates 
from Lake Tahoe into Truckee River and might construct a tunnel 
from Lake Tahoe to Washoe Reservoir. The purpose for rebuilding 
the outlet dam into Truckee River is to make possible a larger dis¬ 
charge, so that floods occurring when the lake is full can be more 
quickly discharged into the river. The object of the tunnel is said to 
be the development of additional power and the avoidance of waste 
by irrigators around Reno. 




88 


TEUCKEE-CAKSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


On June 15 the Secretary approved a report dated June 9 from the 
Forester to the Secretary of Agriculture, in which the Forester said 
that he found the following objections to the proposed agreement: 

1. That it undertook to give to the company, in perpetuity, the 
right to take the flow of water from the tunnel across national-forest 
lands and to acquire certain reservoir sites in or partly in national 
forests for power purposes, in perpetuity. 

2. That while providing for new power sites it made no provision 
for the relinquishment of old power sites to the Government. 

3. That the agreement did not specify the location of the new 
outlet from Lake Tahoe into the tunnel, nor the exact location of the 
five power plants now operated by the company. 

4. That section 7 seemed to authorize the location of transmission 
lines through national forest lands and the erection of power plants 
within the National Forests on Truckee Kiver and its tributaries and 
to grant such rights in perpetuity. The Forester expressed the opin¬ 
ion that no law authorized such perpetual grant. 

5. That the agreement purposes to bind the United States to care 
perpetually for the outlet works on Lake Tahoe and to allow the com¬ 
pany to use all of the poAver in the flood waters of Lake Tahoe which 
the agreement says have been appropriated by the United States. 

After receiving the Forester’s objections and the Secretary’s in¬ 
dorsement thereof, the agreement was changed in the Department of 
the Interior by inserting, in paragraph 7, In accordance with and 
subject to the laws of the United States,” apparently limiting the 
agreement on the part of the United States that the company shall 
build dams and overflow lands in the United States in the watersheds 
of Lake Tahoe and the Truckee River to create water storage to 
satisfy vested rights on the Truckee River, and also apparently lim¬ 
iting the agreement on the part of the United States that the com¬ 
pany should haA^e the right to carry across Government lands any 
such watersheds, pipes, tracks, and railways, and to place thereon 
poles and to run therefrom Avires underground or oA^erhead, as may 
be necessary for the operation and maintenance of such plants as are 
built by the company to utilize the flood waters to be diverted by the 
tunnel. 

A clause was also added to paragraph 7 requiring that all maps of 
location on public lands within National Forests shall be subject to 
the approval of the Secretary of Agriculture and shall not be exer¬ 
cised until such approA^al. 

• The Forest Service believes that the insertion of these phrases and 
the addition to the paragraph referred to were sought by the com¬ 
pany as a basis for the contention that it might gain some rights in 
accordance with the act of April 16, 1906 (34 Stat., 117), although 
that act only contemplated a lease for 10 years, whereas the agree¬ 
ment contemplates a permanent right. 

The Forest Service also believes that before an agreement is signed, 
an inA^estigation should be made to ascertain: (1) The relative value 
of the rights secured to the company and to the United States under 
it should be ascertained with some degree of accuracy. (2) Whether 
the company is securing a monopoly of water power in a region 
where there is a great demand for such power for mining, railroad, 
and other purposes. The service also believes that the agreement 
should be more definite in its terms, to remove the cloud which the 


TRUCKEE-CAKSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


89 


contract apparently puts on all reservoir sites and power-site locations 
on the watersheds of the Truckee River and its tributaries and on the 
watersheds of Lake Tahoe. 

Although paragraph 4 of the contract seems intended to secure the 
use of increased flood water by the United States for irrigation in 
connection with the Truckee-Carson project, paragraph 5 allows the 
diversion by the company after the erection of the improvements by 
which such flood waters are to be stored, and possibly only binds the 
company to return to the Truckee River above the Truckee-Carson 
project intake only the original amount of water which reached that 
point before the erection of improvements by which the flood waters 
are to be stored. 

Mr. W. P. Hammon, a member of the corporation organized to take 
over the rights under the proposed contract, was largely interested 
with H. PI. Yard in the most extensive attempt yet made in the United 
States to secure possession of timber lan^s by fraudulent use of 
mining locations, and he is largely interested in developed and unde¬ 
veloped California water powers on the public lands. 

Mr. - Bowen, reported to be connected with the company 

formed to take over the rights under this contract, is similarly inter¬ 
ested in securing water rights on public lands in California by meth¬ 
ods which have aroused vigorous opposition and complaint in the 
localities in which he is operating. 

The uncontrolled monopoly thus proposed to be assured by the Gov¬ 
ernment to the Truckee River General Electric Co. is: 

1. In direct violation of the established policy concerning water 
power. 

2. In violation of the right of the Secretary of Agriculture, and 
against his official protest, to control the use of land within the 
boundary of land within National Forests. 

3. In violation of the spirit of the ruling of the Attorney General 
that cooperative assistance for the construction of irrigation works 
is not legal, in direct promotion of a well known and widely resented 
attempt by members of this corporation to fasten an oppressive 
monopoly of water power upon the inhabitants of the region. 

4. Relief from one-half the cost of a new dam, estimated by the 
Secretary of the Interior at $25,000. 

5. Relief from liability for damages covered by terms of contract, 
estimated by the Secretary of the Interior at $10,000. 

6. Water estimated by the Secretary of the Interior as sufficient to 
irrigate 70,000 to 80,000 acres, which water already appropriated by 
the United States could be made available with equal certainty by 
the condemnation of the 54 acres of land and the dam. 

The company gets— 

1. The right to new power development produced by water already 
appropriated by the Reclamation Service, estimated by the Secretary 
of the Interior to develop 30,000 horsepower and reported to reach 
200,000. 

2. The right to select at any time during five years any or all 
reservoir sites and rights of way for flumes, ditches, tunnels, trans¬ 
mission lines on the public lands within the watersheds of. Lake 
Tahoe and Truckee River, vested rights to an amount not stated, free 
from any requirement for the surrender of such rights to the United 
States. 



90 


TEUCKEE-CAKSON-LAKE TAHOE PEOJECT. 


3. Therefore a monopoly of water power developed from the very 
important watersheds of Lake Tahoe. 

4. Perpetual control of this monopoly, practically without charge, 
entirely without annual compensation and in perpetuity, in direct 
opposition to the established policy of the United States regarding 
water powers. 

5. Perpetual jDrotection of headwaters and sources from which this 
power is derived. 


Department of the Interior, 

Washington^ July 30^ 1909. 

The Secretary of Agriculture. 

Sir*: Pephdng to ^mur letter of July 27, 1909, I have the honor 
to inclose herewith copy of proposed contract between the Truckee 
River (xeneral Electric"»Co. and the Reclamation Service, Depart¬ 
ment of the Interior. 

Very respectfully, Frank Pierce, 

Acting Secretm'^. 


This agreement, made this thirteenth day of May, 1909, by and 
between the Truckee River General Electric Company, a corporation 
organized and existing in the State of California, its successors and 
assigns, party of the first part, hereinafter styled the ‘‘ Company,” 

and the United States, acting in this behalf by - -, 

Director of the United States Reclamation Service, and subject to 
the approval of the Secretary of the Interior, part}^ of the second 
part, witnesseth: 

IVhereas the Company claims title to a tract approximately fifty- 
four acres in the State of California at the outlet of Lake Tahoe 
into Truckee River, together with the dam now constructed upon said 
premises near the head of Truckee River and the tenements, heredita¬ 
ments, appurtenances, and easements thereunto belonging, and by 
means of said dam now regulates the flow of waters so as to be avail¬ 
able for use in the operation of several plants and factories on 
Truckee River hereinafter mentioned; and 

Whereas the United States desires to utilize the waters stored 
in Lake Tahoe in connection with, the Truckee-Carson project in 
Nevada, constructed under the provisions of the act of Congress ap¬ 
proved June 17, T902 (32 Stat., 388), known as the reclamation act, 
and claims under appropriations made by it or on its behalf the un¬ 
appropriated and surplus waters of Lake Tahoe and the Truckee 
River for irrigation and other uses in connection with said Truckee- 
Carson project, and in this connection has also reserved the public 
lands along the shores of Lake Tahoe and in the immediate vicinity; 
and 

Whereas the parties hereto now desire to provide for the utiliza¬ 
tion of all the waters of Lake Tahoe and of the Truckee River for 
irrigation and power purposes in such manner as to protect all vested 
rights to the use thereof for such purposes, and also to avoid waste 
of any such waters, so far as may be practicable, and generally to 






TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 91 

cooperate to the fullest extent for the beneficial utilization of the 
waters of Lake Tahoe; and 

Whereas it is claimed by the Company that the said lands aggre¬ 
gating approximately fifty-four acres and the dam thereon and 
rights appurtenant thereto at the outlet of Lake Tahoe into Truckee 
River were acquired, and are now held and have for a long time been 
held or controlled by the Company for the purpose of controlling 
and regulating the flow of water from Lake Tahoe down the Truckee 
River, where such water is used in the operation of five certain power 
plants or factories located upon the banks of said river and extend¬ 
ing from Floriston, in California, to a point at or near Reno, in 
Nevada. 

The said power plants or factories are of the description and char¬ 
acter set forth in the following schedule: 


Name, 

Location. 

Diversion 

capacity. 

Floriston Pulp & Paper Co.. 

Floriston. 

Cubic feet 
per second. 

400 

Truckee River General Electric Co. 

Farad. 

400 

Truckee River General Electric Co. 

Fleish. 

300 

Washoe Power & Development Co. 

Mogul. 

300 

Reno Power, Light & Water Co. 

Reno. 

300 




Therefore the said parties hereto agree: 

1. It is agreed and understood that the amounts of water above 
specified are sufficient for all of said plants and factories, the same 
waters being used successively by each of them as such waters pass 
down the said river. 

2. It is further understood and agreed that in order that the flow 
of said waters shall continue to be available for use in the operation 
of said plants it is necessary that the gates of the dam at the lake 
outlet should be so manipulated that the flow of the Truckee River 
at Floriston, in the State of California, shall not be less than 500 
cubic feet per second from the first day of March to the thirtieth 
day of September, inclusive, in each year, and not less than 400 cubic 
feet per second from the first day of October to the last day of Feb¬ 
ruary, inclusive, in each year, and so that the lake elevation on the 
first day of October shall be such that it shall be practicable to draw 
350 cubic feet per second at any time in the months of October, 
November, and December. 

3. In order that there shall be secured to the United States for 
the irrigation and other uses of the Truckee-Carson project all the 
water supply available by storage in Lake Tahoe, subject only to 
the conditions of flow and the other conditions herein in this agree¬ 
ment fixed by the parties, the Company covenants and agrees forth¬ 
with to reconstruct its said dam at Lake Tahoe and to build new out¬ 
let works in connection therewith; also gatekeeper’s buildings, and 
perform the necessary dredging in accordance with plans to be ap¬ 
proved by the Director of the Reclamation Service and to push such 
construction to completion at the earliest date practicable, and to 
complete the same or such parts thereof as the Director of the Recla¬ 
mation Service may require on or before November 1, 1909. Prior 
to November 1, 1909, such changes in the bridges, grade, and track 



















92 


THUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


of the Lake Tahoe Railway and Transportation Company as may 
be necessary for the discharge of twenty-five hundred cubic feet of 
water per second down the Truckee River without damage to the 
railroad shall be provided and the expense thereof shall be borne by 
the Company; and until such changes are made the Company shall 
be responsible for all damage to lands or property on the margin of 
Lake Tahoe or along the Truckee River, and the Company agrees 
that it will secure the full consent of the Lake Tahoe Railway and 
Transportation Company for the doing of such work. The Com¬ 
pany shall not be required to do any work of construction or recon¬ 
struction of the dam and outlet works which will afi'ect vested rights 
in respect to the waters of Lake Tahoe and Truckee River as the 
same now exist, or which will subject it to claims for damage or 
injury in respect thereof. 

4. The Company agrees that, subject to the conditions of flow and 
the other terms and conditions of this agreement, the United States, 
commencing on the first day of November, 1909, shall have the actual 
and exclusive control and operation of said dam and outlet works, and 
the proper officers and agents of the United States shall at all times 
have unrestricted access to the premises and the right to use the same 
and the buildings and works thereon for the purposes of such control 
and operation. The United States covenants and agrees that after 
assuming control hereunder it will at all times properly provide for 
such control and operation under the terms of this agreement and 
will pay all the cost and expense of the same. In the operation of 
said works for the control of the outflow of Lake Tahoe the United 
States covenants and agrees to so manipulate the gates of the dam at 
the lake outlet that the flow of the Truckee River at Floriston, in the 
State of California, shall not be less than 500 cubic feet per second 
from the first day of March to the thirtieth day of September, inclu¬ 
sive, of each year, and not less than 400 cubic feet per second from the 
first day of October to the last day of February, inclusive, in each 
year, and so that the lake elevation on the first day of October shall 
be such that it shall be practicable to draw 350 cubic feet per second 
at any time in the months of October, November, and December. 
Subject to the aforesaid conditions of flow and lake level and subject 
to the rights of the Company and other owners to maintain and 
operate at all times their respective plants and factories (as afore¬ 
said) and subject to the vested rights in Lake Tahoe and in the 
Truckee River, the United States in the operation of said outlet works 
shall have and may exercise the exclusive right to regulate the flow of 
water through said works in such manner as may be deemed best by 
the United States to secure for its use in the Truckee-Carson project 
for irrigation and other purposes all the water supply available by 
storage in Lake Tahoe. The Company agrees that after July 1, 1909, 
and prior to turning over the exclusive control of the dam and outlet 
works of Lake Tahoe to the United States, the Company will operate 
the gates for the discharge of water into Truckee River according to 
such schedule, not inconsistent with the terms of this contract, as may 
be furnished by or under authority of the Director of the Reclamation 
Service. 

5. Whenever the Company shall relieve the United States from its 
agreement to operate the outlet works so as to deliver water in the 


TKUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


93 


manner and in the amount as hereinbefore specified from Lake Tahoe 
to the power plants on the Truckee River, and the Company shall to 
the satisfaction of the Secretary of the Interior assume the liability 
for and the responsibility of protecting and satisfying vested rights 
of all kinds on the Truckee River above Clarks Station on the 
Southern Pacific Railroad, said station being situated above the head 
of the canal constructed by the United States, and shall have made 
adequate provision to protect and satisfy all (riparian) vested and 
other rights to the satisfaction of the Secretary of the Interior, then 
the United States agrees that said Company shall, subject to the 
provisos hereof, be entitled to divert water for power purposes at a 
point, hereinafter styled the second diversion, to be selected by the 
Company on the margin of Lake Tahoe, and if on public land to be 
subject to approval by the Secretary of the Interior, not higher than 
the natural outlet of said lake, and without charge other than the 
stipulations of this agreement; provided that the regulation of the 
discharge through the outlet from Lake Tahoe at point of second di¬ 
version and the control and operation of any storage reservoirs built 
by the company to store waters therefrom for the use and benefit 
of the Truckee-Carson project shall be by the United States acting 
directly through its agents, the control of the United States of outlet 
works of such storage reservoirs to be in like manner as provided in 
paragraph 4 for control of the outlet works from Lake Tahoe into 
Truckee River, the United States agreeing that the control of out¬ 
lets from such storage reservoirs shall be such as to avoid so far as 
possible all waste of water; provided further that the Company shall 
not draw water in excess of 475 acre-feet in any one civil day wdien 
such draft is prohibited by the Director of the Reclamation Service; 
and provided further that in case of such second diversion a suffi¬ 
cient quantity of water shall, by storage or other means to be pro¬ 
vided by the Company, be delivered to the Truckee River at or above 
the place of diversion for said Truckee-Carson project near Clarks 
Station in such manner that the second diversion shall not have the 
effect of diminishing the quantity of water flowing in said Truckee 
River near Clarks Station, and which would be available for the use 
of the said Truckee-Carson project in case no such second diversion 
for power purposes from Lake Tahoe were made or storage additional 
to Lake Tahoe were provided. In the event of such diversion, all 
storage w^orks built by the Company for the use and benefit of said 
Truckee-Carson project shall be subject to approval, both as to design 
and construction, by the Director of the Reclamation Service. In 
order that the Company shall enjoy the full benefit of any such second 
diversion the United "States agrees when such second diversion is 
made that, subject to performance and satisfaction by the Company 
of the conditions of this paragraph, the United States will so control 
the outlet wmrks of Lake Tahoe into the Truckee River that such 
second diversion can be utilized, and so that there will not be a greater 
discharge of the waters of the lake into the Truckee River than is 
necessary to prevent damage from high water in Lake Tahoe or to 
satisfy rights on the river not otherwise provided for. 

6. The Company and its assigns, in case of such diversion, shall 
have the exclusive right to use the waters delivered and diverted 
in pursuance of paragraph 5 for such power purposes as it or they 


94 


TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


may desire at any point or points before such diverted waters are 
taken into the Truckee-Carson canal by the United States at the 
headworks near Clarks Station, but in such manner that subject 
to the terms hereof respecting the flow above specified there shall 
be no unnecessary waste of water available for the Truckee-Carson 
project. 

7. The United States agrees that the Company, in accordance with 
and subject to the laws of the United States, shall have the right to 
build dams and overflow such lands belonging to or controlled by 
the United States in the watersheds of Lake Tahoe and the Truckee 
River as may be necessary for the purpose of creating water storage 
to satisfy vested rights on the Truckee River, and the Company 
shall file a designation of such places and lands with the Secretary 
of the Interior within five years from the date of this agreement, and 
shall build and complete all said works within five years of the date 
of the acceptance of each such designation, otherwise this stipulation, 
unless renewed in writing, shall by its own terms expire. The United 
States further agrees, in accordance with and subject to the laws 
of the United States, that the Company shall have the right to con¬ 
struct and properly maintain such power plant or plants, with appur¬ 
tenances and connections, as the Company or its assigns from time to 
time may elect on land owned or controlled by the United States 
and as may be necessary to utilize the waters of Lake Tahoe and 
the Truckee River and tributaries below the outlet of Lake Tahoe 
in connection with the purposes of this agreement; provided, how¬ 
ever, that all such plants shall be designated by a document in 
writing to be filed with the Secretary of the Interior within five 
years from the date hereof, and shall be completed within five years 
from the date of the acceptance of each such designation, otherwise 
this stipulation, unless renewed in writing, shall by its own terms 
expire, and shall also, in accordance with and subject to the laws of 
the United States, have the right of ingress or egress on such Gov¬ 
ernment land and the right thereon to carry pipes, tracks, and road¬ 
ways, to place poles, and to run wires underground or overhead as 
may be necessary in connection with the proper and satisfactory 
operation and maintenance of such plants as are built to utilize said 
water in case of such diversion. 

Provided, however, that all maps of location on public lands within 
National Forests shall in each instance be subject to the approval of 
the Secretary of Agriculture, to be given in writing, and no such 
right shall be exercised until such written approval is given by said 
Secretary. 

8. The United States covenants and agrees that after it assumes 
operation of the dam and outlet works hereunder and after the com¬ 
pletion of the Lake Tahoe dam, outlet works, and railroad reconstruc¬ 
tions as hereinbefore specified, it will protect and save harmless and 
indemnify the Company against all claims for damages to persons 
or property, including the dam and other property of the company, 
due to the operation of the dam and outlet works; but the United 
StateJishall not be held liable for damage to any property or interests 
below the outlet works resulting from a discharge of 2,500 cubic feet 
of water per second from Lake Tahoe into Truckee River. The 
Company agrees to hold the United States harmless against all claims 


TRUCKEE-CAESON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 95 

for damage due to the operation of the gates at the outlet prior to 
the completion of the said Lake Tahoe dam, outlet works, and railroad 
reconstruction. 

9. The Company shall provide for all needful repairs and renewals 
of all its works which are under the control of the United States, and 
shall promptly provide for such repairs or renewals as may be deemed 
necessary by the Director of the Reclamation Service, and in case of 
failure to do so after due notice, such work may be done by the United 
States at the expense of the Company; provided that the cost of all 
repairs and renewals of any works or structures at the outlet from 
Lake Tahoe into Truckee River shall be borne equally by the Com¬ 
pany and by the United States; provided further that the United 
States shall pay all expenses of operation of all works of the Company 
which are operated by the United States. 

10. The United States shall not in any manner be liable for failure 
to maintain the flow of water specified in the several paragraphs of 
this agreement when such failure shall have been caused by extraor¬ 
dinary drought or other act of God or the public enemy or by un¬ 
lawful interference; but it is agreed and understood that the United 
States shall have the right, subject to the specifications of flow herein 
made, to draw water from Lake Tahoe at any time and in such 
quantity as in the judgment of the Director of the Reclamation 
Service may be necessary to prevent damage to lands on the margin 
of Lake Tahoe, and in such case so much of said water shall be de¬ 
livered to the Company as may be requested by it. It is also under¬ 
stood and agreed that, until completion of the new dam and other 
works by the Company, the flow of water down the Truckee River 
shall be subject to and dependent upon the capacity of the works now 
existing. 

11. In further consideration of the stipulations and agreements 
of this contract the United States will pay to the Company, upon the 
completion of the dam, outlet works, gatekeeper’s buildings, and 
required dredging at the outlet of Lake Tahoe, an amount equal to 
one-half the reasonable and necessary cost thereof, as determined by 
the director, and upon the completion of said works at the Tahoe 
outlet the United States will execute, without other rental charge 
than the stipulations hereof and upon conditions satisfactory to the 
Director of the Reclamation Service, a ten-year lease for the tract 
of land purchased by the United States from the Mercantile Trust 
Company, by deed dated August 9, 1904, and recorded in book 86 of 
deeds, at page 22, records of Placer County, California. 

12. It is understood and agreed that the agreements on the part 
of the United States herein contained as to regulating and controlling 
the flow of water and as to delivery of water in case of diversion are 
the chief considerations moving the Company to execute this agree¬ 
ment, Avithout which and confidence in the performance of which by 
the United States, this agreement would not be made. The control of 
the dam and works aforesaid is given to the United States for the 
purpose of fulfilling the said provisions of this agreement, and 
such control shall continue only so long as it shall be exercised in 
the fulfillment of such purposes. If at any time there be a dispute 
between the parties as to the application of this provision or the 
construction thereof or as to the rights of either party under the 


96 


TKUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


^same, such dispute shall be summarily decided by the Secretary of 
the Interior then in office, whose determination shall be final and con¬ 
clusive upon both parties. No person, firm, or corporation other 
than the United States, and no assign of the United States, whether 
by statute or otherwise, shall have any right to regulate or control the 
outlet works of the Company under this agreement. This agreement 
shall inure to the benefit of and bind the successors and assigns of 
the Company as well as the Company itself. 

13. This agreement shall not operate to bind the United States 
until it shall have been approved by the Secretary of the Interior, 
whose approval or disapproval will be signified within thirty days 
from receipt of copy hereof duly executed by the Company. 

14. It is understood and agreed that the United States does not 
undertake to become responsible for any but its own acts nor to 
convey any right to the Company not now possessed by the United 
States nor which the Secretary of the Interior has not in law the 
right to convey, and that nothing in this contract shall be construed 
as impairing or affecting or requiring the United States to impair or 
affect the rights of any person, corporation, or interest not a party 
to this contract; provided, however, that nothing herein contained 
shall prevent the United States from acquiring on its own behalf, by 
adverse user or otherwise, the right to the use of any of the waters 
mentioned or referred to herein for irrigation and other purposes in 
connection wdth the Truckee-Carson project. 

15. It is also understood and agreed that if the law of the United 
States should be changed in any respect so that the Director of the 
Reclamation Service shall not exercise the powers now exercised by 
him, or if said office shall be abolished, then all the powers and privi¬ 
leges to be exercised by the Director of the Reclamation Service shall 
be exercised by the Secretary of the Interior or by such officer as may 
be designated by him. 

16. No Member of or Delegate to Congress, officer, agent, or em¬ 
ployee of the United States is or shall be admitted to any share or part 
of this contract or to any benefit to arise therefrom, and sections 3739, 
3740, 3741, and 3742, Revised Statutes of the United States, so far as 
applicable, enter into and are a part of this agreement. 

17. This contract is executed on behalf of the company in pursu¬ 
ance of a resolution of its board of directors dated 1909, certified 
copy of which is hereto attached. 

In witness whereof the parties to this agi^eement have hereunto 
set their hands and the Company has caused its corporate seal to be 
affixed the day and year first above written. 

Truckee River General Electric Company, 

By- 

And by- 


Director of the United States Reclamation Service^ 
for and on hehalf of the United States^ 'party of the second part. 

Approved this-day of-, 1909. 


Secretary of the Interior. 








TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


97 


United States Department of Agriculture, 

Forest Service, District 5, 

San Francisco^ Cal.^ July 31^ 1909, 
The Forester, Washmgton^ D. C. 

Dear Sir : In reference to my telegram of July 30, about the Tahoe 
General Electric Co. contract: 

I inclose a series-of newspaper articles which have appeared about 
the proposed deal between the Reclamation Service and the Electric 
Co. The first one is from the Examiner of July 29. This and the 
ones which follow leave the impression in the mind of the public 
that the Government has been after the company for some time to 
sign just this sort of a contract and that the subordinate officials of 
the Reclamation Service have done all in their power to push it 
through. They also give the idea that the Secretary of the Interior 
has done his best to prevent it. 

I do not know where the Examiner got the first tip, but when they 
did they called up Mr. Maltby at Concord about midnight and told 
him that Mr. Kent had given them the story, asking him to furnish 
a few further engineering details. As you can see from the article, 
it was built entirely upon the information that Mr. Maltby gave them 
supplemented by a few facts they got from the company. Mr. Kent 
said afterwards that he had seen nobody and made no statements 
about it. 

By the time you get these the matter will probably have died 
down, but I would like to know whether you want a straight state¬ 
ment of facts given out or not. 

Very truly, yours, Coert Du Bois, 

Acting District Forester, 


[From San Francisco Evening Bulletin, July 29, 1909,] 

Ballinger Coming to Probe Lake Tahoe Power Deal—Reclama¬ 
tion Service Makes Pact With W. P. Hammon Which Many 

Fear Will Ruin Mountain Resort. 

Secretary of the Interior Ballinger is on his way here to investi¬ 
gate a secret deal through which the United States Reclamation 
Service officials have been led into authorizing a contract which will 
take from the Government water-power rights worth millions. The 
deal involves the control of the Lake Tahoe watershed and, according 
to William Kent, the Marin County capitalist, will absolutely ruin 
Lake Tahoe, decimate the forest about it, and work millions of dol¬ 
lars’ worth of harm to the people at large. 

It is because of the vast importance to the public which the secret 
deal has assumed that Secretary Ballinger is coming here to make a 
personal investigation. 

A. W. Maltby, Government expert on water-power matters, has 
declared the contract bad for the Government, although it gives the 
Government what was asked in the matter of supervision of the for¬ 
ests in the affected district. 

On the other hand, A. E. Boynton, who represents the Truckee 
River General Electric Co., the corporation which will benefit 
23914°—H. Doc. 451, 62-2-7 



98 


TEUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


through the contract, declares that no trickery was used to gain the 
result which has stirred up official Washington. He also says that the 
only losers through the contract will be the interests headed by W. P. 
Hammon, whom he represents. 

Newest and most startling of all developments is the information, 
just received, that Secretary of the Interior Ballinger is on his 
way here to investigate all phases of the Lake Tahoe deal and either 
rescind the action of his subordinates who passed favorably on the 
original contract, or so change its terms that it will protect the Gov¬ 
ernment against all loss. 


SITUATION IN BRIEF. 

Briefly, the situation is this: 

The Truckee Eiver General Electric Co. gained control of the only 
outlet of Lake Tahoe, being the Truckee River. 

The United States Reclamation Service, finding it impossible to 
complete the Truckee reclamation project without the waters of Lake 
Tahoe, cast about for relief. 

All sorts of propositions and counterpropositions were made. The 
electric company was obdurate. Finally it was agreed that if the 
Government would turn over the control of the Lake Tahoe watershed 
to the company, the latter would in return 'abandon the outlet, allow¬ 
ing the Government sufficient water to insure success for the reclama¬ 
tion project. The Government was also forced into agreeing to pay 
one-half the cost of the construction of a new dam across the Truckee 
and to pay all operating costs of the dam while it was being used for 
irrigation purposes. 

KENT PROTESTS. 

Largely through the vigorous protest of William Kent, the Marin 
County capitalist, were the true facts about the contract brought out. 

Mr. Kent has been in constant correspondence with high Govern¬ 
ment officials, pointing out the unfairness of the contract and in other 
ways opening their eyes to the menace of giving away control of the 
Tahoe watershed. All of this correspondence and all reports on the 
subject, no matter from what source, have been boiled down and 
placed before President Taft, who probably will be the final judge of 
whether the contract shall be operative. 

So far as can be learned, the contract has been authorized by some 
of the lesser officials and would now be operative but for the timely 
interference of Mr. Kent. 

Had it been put into full force, there would be established along 
the shores of Lake Tahoe huge Avater-power plants. These would 
use practically all the Avater Avhich feeds the lake. 

AVOULD DRAIN LAKE. 

According to those who profess to know, the giving control of the 
Lake Tahoe watershed into the hands of a private corporation will 
not only ruin the timber in the shed, but Avill in time drain the lake 
itself. This is because new courses for the water will be found. 

Secretary Boynton, on behalf of the Hammon interests, this morn¬ 
ing declared that Avhen the plans of the company are carried out 


TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


99 


Lake Tahoe will not be harmed in any way. He also says that, al¬ 
though there is a combination of all the Hammon interests now in 
process of formation, the capital will not be nearly what it has been 
reported, but will be nearer $5,000,000 than $50,000,000. Mr. Boyn¬ 
ton says that the Hammon interests are suffering greatly by the 
terms of the new contract and that to give up control of the outlet of 
Lake Tahoe is a public benefaction, for it will insure the Truckee- 
Carson irrigation scheme and will injure the private interests of the 
corporation for the time being at least. 


[From San Francisco Examiner, July 20, 1000.] 

Secret Deal with United States Puts Tahoe in Syndicate’s 

Clutch. 

Fifty Million Dollar Power and Light Plants to be Installed and 
Eesidents Fear the Beautiful Lake Will be Drained.—Protests Are 
Hurried on to President Taft—Great Corporation, Headed by 
W. P. Hammon, Gains Perpetual Rights by Relinquishing Control 
of Truckee Outlet—Big Coup is Admitted by Secretary Boynton— 
Reclamation Service Makes Pact to Perfect Nevada Irrigation 
System, but Final Approval Is With Ballinger. 

details of gigantic deal entered into between the united states 

GOVERNMENT AND THE TRUCKEE RIVER GENERAL ELECTRIC CO. 

Truckee River General Electric Co. relinquishes control of Truckee 
River outlet to Lake Tahoe to the Government. Federal Govern¬ 
ment in exchange grants Truckee River General Electric Co. per¬ 
petual rights to any locations in Lake Tahoe and Truckee River 
watersheds. Government agrees to pay one-half cost of building 
new Truckee Dam and full cost of operating same for irrigation 
purposes. Granting of rights to the syndicate means the establish¬ 
ment of plants upon the shore of Lake Tahoe and a $50,000,000 
power scheme. Granting of these rights raises storm of protest 
from property owners, who fear waters of the lake will be drained. 

A secret Government deal, involving the absolute domination of the 
watershed of Lake Tahoe by a private syndicate and the control in 
perpetuity of water rights which may be capitalized at not less than 
$30,000,000 or $40,000,000, came to light yesterday in this city. 

Negotiations for this deal have been going on in secret for a num¬ 
ber of months between the Reclamation Bureau of the Department of 
the Interior and the syndicate headed by W. P. Hammon, who has 
come to the front in the last few years in the control of electric light 
and power properties in Nerada and California. 

These negotiations came to a head on July 1, when a formal con¬ 
tract was drawn uji between Hammon’s Truckee River General 
Electric Co. and the Reclamation Service. 

CONTRACT IS VIRTUALLY A TRADE. 

The contract is virtually a trade, and the Hammon people were in 
a position to force remarkable concessions from the Government in 
return for the right of the Reclamation Service to control the flow 



100 


TKUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


of water from the Triickee Kiver into the main canal of the Govern¬ 
ment’s Truckee-Carson irrigation project. 

The character of the trade by which the Hammon syndicate gained 
control of the w^atershed of Lake Tahoe may account for the secrecy 
with which the negotiations have been carried on. 

A number of interests, however, have by some means found out 
what has been going on and are preparing to make vehement protest 
to President Taft against the consummation of an arrangement which 
they think will finally mar the Lake Tahoe region, one of California’s 
most beautiful spots and one of the most beautiful scenic regions in 
the world. 


FORWARDS PROTEST TO TAFT. 

One protest, it is stated, has already been sent to President Taft. 
The sender is William Kent, the Marin County capitalist, who 
recently gave a part of his redwood forest holdings on the slopes 
of Mount Tamalpais for the purposes of a Government forest 
reservation. 

There are many wealthy and prominent people who are building 
fine country homes on the shores of Lake Tahoe. These people 
include I. W. Heilman, the banker; the Tevis family; the Bissell 
family; and many others. 

They have by some means ascertained in part what these secret 
negotiations portend, and it is said that they will shortly swell the 
volume of protests to be sent to President Taft. 

THE FORESTS ARE PRCJl’ECTED. 

A. W. Maltby, who is an expert of the Government Forestry Serv¬ 
ice, has been on the ground under instructions from the Government, 
to see whether the contract entered into interferes in any way with 
forest rights in the Lake Tahoe region. 

Maltby, who arrived in this city yesterday, declares that while the 
forests rights are fully protected, it is his understanding that the 
Government gives the Hammon syndicate the right to use any loca¬ 
tion in the Lake Tahoe watershed that it may select to establish a 
power plant or plants. 

This is a perpetual right the Government gives the Hammon syndi¬ 
cate, and it is given free of charge. 

NEW DAM TO BE BUILT. 

Maltby also says that in return for these sweeping concessions 
the Flammon people are to enjoy, the Government is to be given an 
interest in the Hammon Dam at the head of the Truckee River, so 
that it can control the flow of water from the river into the main 
canal of the Truckee-Carson irrigation project. 

A new dam is to be built at the head of the river, and Maltby says 
the Government, according to the contract, assumes all liability for 
damages in making the contemplated improvement and agrees to pay 
one-half the cost of construction and the full cost of operation. 

The Truckee River General Electric Co. owns all the land at the 
head of the river and an old dam there. It has controlled this prop¬ 
erty for a number of years. A few months ago Hammon came into 
possession of this company. 


TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


101 


BOYNTON ADMITS THE DEAL. 

Harnmon is out of the city, but the secretary of the company, 
A. E. Bojmton, who is the personal representative of the capitalist, 
admitted last night the existence of the contract that had been 
secretly entered into with the Government. 

Boynton said that the negotiations had been closed by the signing 
of the contract on July 1, and admitted that himself and Vice Presi¬ 
dent Gardner had signed it for the company. Boynton explained 
that the contract was then sent east for the signatures of the Govern¬ 
ment officials. 

Boynton said he did not know who signed the contract for the 
Government, but that it was his understanding that the terms of the 
document were not to become operative until approved by Secretary 
of the Interior Ballinger. 

PRIVILEGES ARE VALUABLE. 

Boynton emphasizes the fact that the Harnmon company abso¬ 
lutely controls the only outlet of Lake Tahoe, which is the head of 
the Truckee River. The contract, he said, makes a very plain pro¬ 
vision whereby the Government obtains an interest in this control 
SO as to regulate the flow of the water of the river to the Truckee- 
Carson irrigation canal. 

Boynton refused to discuss in detail the concession which the Gov¬ 
ernment has seen fit to give the company in return, although he did 
say that valuable privileges have been bestowed on the Harnmon 
people. 

“ I was sent up to Lake Tahoe by the Government,” said A. W. 
Maltby. 


[From Oakland Tribune, July 29, 1909.] 

Truckee-Carson Project Is Settled. 

Washington, July 29.—After negotiations which have continued 
unsuccessfully for several years between the Government and the 
Truckee Electric Co., for the use of the storage waters in Lake Tahoe 
for the Truckee-Carson irrigation project in Nevada, it is believed 
an amicable settlement shortly will be reached. A contract for the 
use of the waters has been drawn up and only requires the removal 
of certain technicalities before being signed by the Secretary of the 
Interior. 


[Prom San Francisco Call, July 30, 1909.] 

Lake Tahoe is not in Danger from Grants. 

ACTIVITY OF HAMMON ON TRUCKEE RIVER EXPLAINED BY THE POWER CON¬ 
CESSIONS-GOVERNMENT MAKES OVERTURES IN ORDER TO GAIN WATER 

FOR NEVADA IRRIGATION. 

The activity of the representatives of W. P. Harnmon on the 
Truckee River has occasioned widespread interest among the power 




102 


TEUCKEE-CAKSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


companies, and reports have been circulated of impending deals call¬ 
ing for investments of $50,000,000 or more. It appears, however, 
that the Haminon interests, while of great extent, are not of the pro¬ 
portions indicated. The Truckee General Electric Co., one of Ham- 
mon’s concerns, has recently entered into an agreement with the 
Government by which the corporation surrenders control of the out¬ 
let of Lake Tahoe at the Truckee Kiver in exchange for various con¬ 
cessions. 

These concessions, it is understood, include grants of power-house 
sites, water rights, and other privileges in the adjacent lands. 

TRANSACTION IS SIMPLE. 

“ The transaction was a simple one,” said A. E. Boynton, attorney 
for the Hammon interests. “ The Government found that it did 
not have enough water for its big irrigation project in Nevada and 
opened negotiations with us in order to acquire the outlet from Lake 
Tahoe. In this manner the Government will be able to regulate the 
flow of water. There will be no interference in any way with the 
natural beauties of Tahoe, nor will the lake be drained, or anything 
of the sort. It will be left just as it is. Neither the scenic attractions 
nor the fishing advantages will be in the least affected.” 

While Hammon has recently taken the preliminary steps toward 
the development of the Loon Lake project, it may be some time before 
this is made part of the general plan for a consolidated power com¬ 
pany. 


NOT CONNECTED WITH HAMMON. 

Boynton denied emphatically that Hammon was in any way con¬ 
nected with E. H. Harriman. He said, however, that when Harriman 
converted the mountain system from steam to electricity Hammon 
would be in a position to sell him power. 

“ The privileges granted us in exchange for the lake outlet,” said 
Boynton, “ are really of minor importance. The Government pro¬ 
posed the exchange and we hesitated before accepting it. There has 
been no secrecy, and there need be none. We do not come into pos¬ 
session of Lake Tahoe watersheds, as has been represented. All we 
get are a few privileges on which we do not place a very great value. 
It is not true that any power concessions have been granted us in 
perpetuity nor do our plans contemplate any construction work that 
need alarm the residents on the shores of Lake Tahoe.” 

The agreement between Hammon and the Federal authorities must 
eventually be submitted to Secretary Eichard A. Ballinger, of the 
Interior Department, for his approval. As the request for the ex¬ 
change came from the Government officials, the Hammon people be¬ 
lieve that the terms of the agreement will be formally ratified. 

BALLINGER NOT INFORMED. 

Portland, July 29.—K. A. Ballinger, Secretary of the Interior, is 
on the westbound Union Pacific train between Boise and Portland 
to-day. In answer to the telegraphic inquiry by the Associated Press 
if the Government had granted or intended to grant power conces- 


^UCKEE-CAKSONtLAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


103 

sions asked for in the Lake Tahoe watershed by W. P. Hammon and 
others, Secretary Ballinger replied that he ‘‘ has no information as 
to the alleged privileges desired by W. P. Hammon and others.” 
Ballinger also stated that a report in circulation in San Francisco 
that he is going to that city to investigate these power concessions is 
unfounded. 


WILL USE TAHOE WATER FOR IRRIGATION PROJECT-LONG NEGOTIATIONS 

ARE ABOUT TO BE AMICABLY SETTLED. 

IYasiiington, July 29. — After negotiations which have continued 
unsuccessfully for several years between the Government and the 
Truckee Electric Co. for the use of the storage waters in Lake Tahoe 
for irrigating the Truckee-Carson irrigation project in Nevada, it is 
believed an amicable settlement shortly will be reached. A contract 
for the use of the waters has been drawn up and only requires the 
removal of certain technicalities before being signed by the Secretary 
of the Interior. 


[From San Francisco Examiner, July 30, 1909.] 

Besidents Upon Fair Tahoe Fear Vandals. 

Ballinger Will Visit Scene of Deal—United States Pact with Electric 
Corporation Starts War, with Home Owners Aligned—Gives 
Monopoly Forever—Boynton Denies Scenery Will Be Marred— 
Director Newell Scored by Chief. 

THOSE AVHOSE HOMES TAHOE DEAL AFFECTS. 

The following are among the property OAvners holding lands on the 
shores of Lake Tahoe whose homes may be affected if the deal be¬ 
tween the Government and the Truckee General Electric Co. goes 
through: 

James’K. Moffatt, has country seat; Dr. Herbert C. Moffatt, owns 
country seat on shores of the lake; Mrs. C. B. Brigham, big property 
owner; C. Frederick Kohl, owner of palatial country home; William 
A. Bissell, possessor of bungalow on lake shore; William Tevis, owns 
magnificent country place and many acres; C. M. Jacques, property 
owner; John Babcock, owns country place; I. W. Heilman, possesses 
vast acreage and beautiful residence; M. L: Effinger, property owner; 
W. J. G. Lamber, of Los Angeles; the E. A. Baldwin estate, controls 
Tallac; the Bliss people, owners of Tahoe Tavern; the McKee family, 
big property owners; George H. Brougher; the Schmiedells, owners 
of country seat. 

The publication in the Examiner yesterday of the secret deal 
between the United States Keclamation Service and W. P. Ham- 
mon’s Truckee Eiver General Electric Co., giving the latter a mo¬ 
nopoly of water and power rights in the Lake Tahoe and Truckee 
Eiver watersheds, caused a sensation among the many wealthy people 
who have homes along the lake shore. 




104 TRUCKEE-CAESON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 

It also caused deep interest among officials of other corporations 
owning power sites in that part of the State. 

There are more than $3,000,000 worth of improvements along the 
shores of the lake, and the investors of this large amount of money 
are afraid that they are going to be greatly damaged. 

FEAR MARRING OF SCENERY. 

They fear a rise in the level of the lake, due to the proposed new 
dam wdiich the contract calls for. That the natural beauties of that 
part of the Sierra Nevada Mountains will be marred and blemished 
by the vandal hand of people, solely actuated by the commercial 
spirit, is the keynote of their opposition. 

The contract, according to those who have seen it, stipulates that 
the Government agrees to give the present holders of the outlet the 
same water pressure they are now getting, and by raising the level 
of the lake 6 feet to make it continuous throughout the 12 months. 

This project, if carried through, would ruin many of the palatial 
residences along the lake shore. 

BALLINGER TO VIEW LAKE. 

As near as can be ascertained, this contract simply awaits the ap¬ 
proval of Secretary of the Interior Ballinger before it becomes 
effective. Protests sent to President Taft, and others to be sent, may, 
however, have the effect of holding up this deal. 

The Secretary of the Interior will reach Portland to-morrow, and 
it is said that he will be here in a few days and go to Lake Tahoe 
to look over the ground himself. 

A dispatch from Washington last night sets forth that the deal is 
practically effected, and that after certain technicalities have been 
removed wdll be signed by Ballinger, unless after a personal inspec¬ 
tion he sees fit to reverse the action taken by Director Newell of the 
Eeclamation Service. 


ARE REPORTED UNFRIENDLY. 

Ballinger and Newell are reported not to be on very good terms, for 
the reason, it is alleged, that Ballinger thinks Newell’s administra¬ 
tion of the Reclamation Service has been full of mistakes. 

It is said one of these mistakes relates to the Truckee-Carson Irri¬ 
gation project. As the story goes, Ballinger thinks Newell should 
not have spent $4,000,000 on canals for the Truckee project before 
obtaining control of the outflow of Lake Tahoe into the Truckee 
River. 

Now that the money has been spent and the irrigation project is in 
existence, the Secretary is said to think the control of the lake’s 
outfloAv must be in the hands of the Government. It is for this 
reason, it is said, that he favors a deal to get this control. 

Whether he will go as far as Newell and give the Hammon people 
all that they have asked and all that the contract is said to call for 
remains to be seen. The property owners hope when he is here to 
have a talk with him and urge him to fully protect their interests. 


TRUCKEE-CAESON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


105 


COPY OF CONTRACT HERE. 

Preliminary to this personal conference with Ballinger, protests 
against the contract are being forwarded to President Taft. William 
Kent, of the property owners, and a public-spirited citizen of this 
State, has already protested to Taft. Among the other property 
owners along the lake who expect to either protest to the President 
or to confer with Ballinger are: James K. Moffitt, Dr. Harry Moffitt, 
Mrs. C. B. Brigham, C. Frederick Kohl, William A. Bissell, William 
Tevis, C. M. Jacques, John Babcock, I. W. Heilman, M. L. Effinger, 
W. J. G. Lambert, of Los Angeles, the E. A. Baldwin estate, which 
is planning a new hotel at Tallac, the Bliss people, who own the 
Lake Tahoe Tavern, the McKee family, George H. Brougher, the 
Schmiedells, and others. 

It is known that there is one copy of this contract in San Francisco. 
It is in the possession of A. E. Boynton, the secretary for Hammon. 

He will not make it public without permission of Hammon, who is 
in New York. 


BOYNTON DEFENDS DEAL. 

Boynton, however, insists that the contract is the result of a year 
and a half’s insistence on the part of the Government that it be given 
the control of the outflow of Lake Tahoe into the Truckee River. 

This, he says, has been done, and tha|; the Government in turn has 
not given the General Electric Co. a monopoly of power sites around 
Lake Tahoe. He does not say what the company gets in return, but 
does insist that the terms of the contract do not mean that the nat¬ 
ural beauty and scenery of the Lake Tahoe region is in any way to be 
marred at the hands "of Hammon and his New York and English 
associates. 

According to Boynton, the company has given much to the Gov¬ 
ernment and got but very little in return, except a guaranty that its 
vested interests along the Truckee River, including three power 
plants, will be fully respected and protected. 

SHUTS OUT COMPETITORS. 

There is every indication, however, that the Hammon people, by 
this contract, have driven a shrewd bargain with the Government. 

It unquestionably means, among other things, that nobody else but 
the Hammon syndicate will ever be able to get water from Lake 
Tahoe for power purposes, and especially that no man or association 
of men will ever get the consent of the Government to tunnel through 
the western slope of the Sierras into Lake Tahoe to create power 
plants in the sections of California west of the Sierras. 

The contract will give the Hammon people an absolute monopoly 
of all the water of the Truckee River for power plants in Nevada. 
This will be the basis of their contemplated widespread electric-light 
and power-transmission plant throughout the State. In California 
for their proposed power plants they will utilize the waters of the 
Rubicon River in Eldorado County. 

KENT FIGHTING CONTRACT. 

A dispatch from Portland last night represented Ballinger as 
stating that he has not as yet seen the contract giving certain privi¬ 
leges to the Hammon people. 


100 


TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE EROJECT. 


William Kent, one of the property OAvners on the shores of Lake 
Tahoe, is strongly urging President Taft to prevent the consumma¬ 
tion of the deal. He said last night: 

I have been correctly quoted as being opposed to the contract. I have sent a 
I)rotest to President Taft. For obvious reasons I can not specify the grounds 
on which my protest is based. The protest does not originate, however, from 
the fact that I own property on the shore of Lake Tahoe. It is not a personal 
protest, but one based on broader grounds. I do not believe the contract is con¬ 
sonant with the general iJublic interest. 

A. E. Bo^mton said last eATiiing: 

The Reclamation Service, or the Government, has been very insistent for over 
a year, or probably a year and a half, to get the General Electric Co. to make 
this contract. The Government tried to make it with the Fleishhackers before 
Mr. Hammon and his associates bought them out. 

The Fleishhackers and the Government did not come to any agreement. This 
caused the Government to file a suit to condemn, for the purposes of the Recla¬ 
mation Service, the dam at the head of the Truckee River, where the lake 
flows into it, and all other necessary property at the head of the river owned 
by the General Electric Co. 

This suit was filed in the United States circuit court in this city and is still 
pending. No doubt the suit will be dismissed, now that an amicable agreement 
has been reached. 


CJOVERNIMENT MA1>E OVERTURES. 

I mention these facts to show that all overtures leading up to this contract 
came from the Government for perfecting the Truckee-Carson irrigation project. 

Tlie contract, I should say, is h. compromise between the contracting parties. 
I do not understand that there is any secrecy about the contract. 

I have a copy of it in my minutes of the company meetings, but I do not feel 
privileged to make it public without the consent of Mr. Hammon. Mr. Hammon 
is now in New York and has no associates on this coast in this particular matter. 

Whether the Government could have condemned and taken this particular 
property from the General Electric Co. does not need to be discussed now in 
view of the fact that an amicable arrangement between the two parties has 
been agreed upon. 

This contract does not mean that the natural scenic beauties of Lake Tahoe 
are in any way to be destroyed or that the lake in any manner is to be dam¬ 
aged or that any of the property owners around the lake are to suffer damage. 

It would not be feasible or practicable for the General Electric Co. to erect 
power plants on the shores or sides of Lake Tahoe, because there would not be 
in those positions the necessary fall of water. The only place for power plants 
is along the Truckee River. 

The General Electric Co. has three power plants along the Truckee River at 
present, and they require a certain amount of water all the year around for the 
generation of electric light and power. T^hese are vestcHl rights which can not 
be disturbed, and the contract between the Government and the company re¬ 
spects these rights. 

I can say that the contract will give the Reclamation Service the control of 
the water from Lake Tahoe into the Truckee River. The old log dam at the 
head of the river is to be supplanted by a new concrete dam. 

It is my understanding that the Government will pay one-half the cost of 
building the concrete dam and pay the annual cost of operation. If in operat¬ 
ing the dam any property owners on the lake are damaged and bring suit, the 
Government will have to take care of such litigation. 


[From Oakland Tribune, .Tuly 30, 1909.] 

Truckee-Carson Project is Settled. 

Contract for Use of Waters in Tahoe Only Awaits Signature—Per¬ 
petual Eights for Power Plants—Terms of Agreement Cause Pro¬ 
test from Marin County Capitalist. 

Washington, July 29. — After negotiations which have continued 
unsuccessfully for several years between the Government and the 



TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


107 


Triickee Electric Co. for the use of the storage waters in Lake Tahoe 
for the Truckee-Carson irrigation project in Nevada, it is believed an 
amicable settlement shortly will be readied. A contract for the use 
of the waters has been drawn up and only requires the removal of 
certain technicalities before being signed by the Secretary of the 
Interior. 

TERMS OF AGREEMENT. 

San Francisco, July W .—As understood here, the agreement be¬ 
tween the Government and the Truckee River General Electric Cor¬ 
poration provides that the Reclamation Service will gain control of 
water necessary to complete one of the Federal irrigation schemes, and 
an electric company, which is headed by W. P. Hammon, will be given 
in return perpetual rights for power plants in the vast Lake Tahoe 
and Truckee River watersheds. 

AYilliam Kent, a Marin County capitalist, who recently donated a 
famous redwood grove to the State, has protested against the ex¬ 
change proposed and has attempted to have the matter brought to the 
attention of President Taft. Kent, who claims to have investigated 
the subject, believes that Lake Tahoe, one of the famous inland re¬ 
sorts of western America, wull be endangered by the advent of com¬ 
mercial promoters. 

TO INSTALL PLANTS. 

A. E. Boynton, secretary of the Truckee River General Electric Co., 
stated to-day that he had signed a contract, since forwarded to Wash¬ 
ington for signature by the officials of the Reclamation Service, 
whereby the syndicate is given the right to install power plants in 
any portion of the Lake Tahoe watershed. 

A. W. Maltby, an expert of the Federal Forestry Service, has made 
an inspection of the watershed and declares that the contract inter¬ 
feres in no manner with the forest reserves surrounding the lake. 

According to Maltby, the Government in return for the concession 
made, is to be given the right to control the flow of the Truckee River 
into the main channel of the Truckee-Carson Government irrigation 
project. The electric company owns all the land at the head of the 
Truckee, which is the only outlet to the lake, and Secretary Boynton, 
discussing the negotiations to which he has been a party, said: 

The Government has expended $4,000,000 on the irrigation project, which will 
ultimately reclaim 130,000 acres of land, but the Government does not control 
the dam site, and consequently is not in position to regulate the flow of water 
necessary for purposes of irrigation. 

By the terms of this contract, the Reclamation Service will control the dam 
site, and Mr. Hammon and his associates are obtaining privileges they deem of 
value to them. 

It is understood that the entire matter is still subject to the consid¬ 
eration of the Secretary of the Interior. 


[Prom Chronicle, July 30, 1909.] 

Kent Sees Danger in Hammon’s Plans. 

Wires Taft that Lake Tahoe Contract Will Work a Great Injury— 
Ballinger Noncommittal—Secretary of the Interior Denies that 
He Came West to Investigate. 

Following the announcement of the plans of the Hammon syndi¬ 
cate for the development of electric power on a large scale at Lake 



108 


TKUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


Tahoe and on the Triickee, Carson, and Walker Rivers, which was 
first made public in the Chronicle on the 10th of this month, William 
Kent, nature lover and guardian of the big tree^, claims to have 
discovered something that is against the public interest in the project 
and has wired President Taft a protest, which he is following by a 
letter addressed to the President. ^ ^ . 

The particular feature of the development which Kent criticises 
is the contract which has been entered into betAveen the Interior 
Department and the Hammon people for a control of the outlet of 
the lake, which was considered to have satisfied both the requirements 
of the Government in connection with the Truckee-Carson irrigation 
project and the fears of the littoral owners at the lake that their lands 
might be flooded at the will of the power people, as well as the wishes 
of Hammon. 


AVHEN KENT OBJECTS. 

But Kent has assured the President that in his opinion there is 
something bad in this contract, one clause of which gives the Ham¬ 
mon syndicate the right to divert the water of the lake in other ways, 
provided the Government shall sanction the diversion. 

Just what the result of this clause will be is somewhat difficult to 
understand in view of the fact that the engineering plans of the 
syndicate do not appear to be matured. At one time, as has been 
previously published, it was the intention to construct a tunnel from 
the lake 9 miles in length and opening at Hell Hole on the Rubicon, 
where a power station Avas contemplated. Along with this plan was 
the idea of diverting the upper waters of the Rubicon watershed into 
the lake, Avhich would have been used as an immense reservoir. More 
recently the engineers engaged in the work haA^e doubted the practi¬ 
cability of this plan, and it is said that the present intention is to use 
Loon Lake in a somewhat similar fashion. Nevada had also pro¬ 
tested at Washington against the proposed diversion of the Tahoe 
water to California. 

Kent said last night: 

I have wired President Taft advising him that the contract between the Ham¬ 
mon syndicate and the Government is against public interest, in my opinion, 
and I am about to mail him my reasons more in detail for holding this opinion. 
Further than this, courtesy to the President demands that I should say nothing. 

AVHAT KEESLING SAYS. 

Francis V. Keesling, attorney for some of the interests involved in 
the Truckee development, said last night: 

The idea that has been suggested that the Truckee development contemplated 
the draining of the lake should characterize the entire statement for any sensi¬ 
ble reader, for the simple reason that the law would not permit such a thing. 

Among the reasons for entering into the agreement with the Government was 
the desire to reassure the littoral owners at Lake Tahoe that their rights would 
be absolutely safeguarded, and that there would be no arbitrary raising and 
lowering of the level of the water. The other causes for the execution of the 
agreement are to be found in the more economical use of the water and the 
prevention of waste by judicious control, thereby adding to the capacity of the 
Government’s Truckee-Carson irrigation project, which without the rights 
acquired from our companies might have been seriously handicapped. 

The statement that nothing in the development of the Tahoe project will in¬ 
terfere in the least with the natural levels of the lake should set at rest all 


TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


109 


idle speculation as to the rights of littoral owners being invaded. The Govern¬ 
ment has no .greater rights where private property rights intervene than has an 
individual. 

CONFERENCE AT RENO. 

Keesling left last night for Keno, where F. G. Baum is at present 
in conference with several representatives of the Eastern and English 
capitalists who have joined with Hammon in the syndicate which 
proposes to develop 200,000 horsepower on the Truckee, Carson, and 
Walker Fivers. 

A. E. Boynton, Hammon’s secretary, while he admits that the ulti¬ 
mate plans of the syndicate are greater than have yet been announced, 
asserts that Kent has nothing to fear in the way of an invasion of the 
natural beauties of the lake and that there is no intention of molest¬ 
ing “ the timber, the water, the fish in the water, or any other of the 
natural beauties of Lake Tahoe.” He said: 

We have no intention of diverting the water of Lake Tahoe to this side of the 
Sierra, and the power plants which will be constructed on the Truckee are only 
one part of the power development which will be undertaken on the Carson, 
Walker, and Rubicon Rivers as well. 

Along with the announcement of Kent’s protest came the rumor 
that Secretary Ballinger was coming west post haste to investigate 
Hammon, who is at present in Boston, and to inquire into the agree¬ 
ment which he had made for conserving the water of the Truckee- 
Carson project. 

WHAT BALLINGER SAYS. 

As a matter of fact Ballinger happens to be on a trip in the West, 
and arrived in Portland last night. When he was asked if he had any 
knowledge of power concessions granted to Hammon at Lake Tahoe 
he replied that he “ had no knowledge of privileges desired by Ham¬ 
mon,” and stated that the report in circulation in San Francisco that 
he was coming to this city to investigate the contract for the joint 
control of the Lake Tahoe outlet was without foundation. 

Kent also added his authorization to the statement that Ballinger 
was not in the West to investigate Hammon, and said that his protest 
had gone direct to the President. 

The history of the case is that for several years the Interior Depart¬ 
ment had sought to enter into a contract with the Truckee General 
Electric, recently purchased by the Hammon syndicate, which would 
enable it more judiciously to control the headwaters of the Truckee 
at the outlet of Lake Tahoe. Several suits had been started, and dif¬ 
ferent plans proposed, but it is now thought that the matter has been 
definitely settled by the contract, which gives the Government the 
control of the water for irrigation, while it guarantees the power 
rights sought by Hammon. 

Boynton states that no power plant will be constructed at the lake, 
but tiiat the plans which are in the hands of the engineers contem¬ 
plate extensive developments on the Truckee for the fuller utilization 
of the fall of the water. 

A dispatch from Washington last night states that this contract 
with Hammon has l>een one of the causes of friction between Director 
Newell of the Keclamation Service and Secretary Ballinger, and that 


110 TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAEIOE PROJECT. 

ii former contract which had been drawn by Newell was considered 
by Ballinger to have been too broad in the rights granted to Hammon. 

Ballinger is reported to have remarked with some heat that while 
Newell might be an eminent engineer he wasn’t much of a lawyer.” 
But Newell’s friends came to his defense with the assertion that he 
was only doing what had been expected of him by the previous ad¬ 
ministration. 

New^ell’s contract was redrawn, and the impression in Washington 
seems to be that the new form has not yet been signed by Ballinger; 
but Hammon’s representatives here were of the opinion that the con¬ 
tract had been closed previous to the original publication of the 
matter in the Chronicle on the 10th of this month. 


August 2, 1909. 

The Secretary or the Interior. 

Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge your letter of July 30, trans¬ 
mitting a copy of the proposed contract between the Department of 
the Interior and the Truckee River General Electric Co. There is 
on file in the Department of the Interior a report from the Forester 
discussing this contract and urging that it be not executed until a 
thorough examination has been made on the ground. On June 15 
I indorsed in a letter to the Secretary of the Interior the report of 
the Forester and protested formally against the execution of the 
contract. 

I have the honor to be, sir. 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

James Wilson, Secretary . 


[Memorandum concerning proposed cooperative contract between the Department: of the 
Interior and the Truckee River General Electric Co.J 


The company has— 

1. Fifty-four acres of land at the outlet from Lake Tahoe into 
Truckee River, valued by the Secretary of the Interior at $56,000. 

2. A small dam located on the above land, which controls the water 
flowing from Lake Tahoe into Truckee River. 

3. A water right of 400 cubic feet per second used for power devel¬ 
opment along Truckee River. 

The United States has— 

1. All unappropriated and surplus waters of Lake Tahoe, appro¬ 
priated by the Reclamation Service for the Truckee-Carson project 
under the reclamation act. 

2. The public lands along the shores and in the watershed of Lake 
Tahoe and the Truckee River. 

3. National forest lands, including reservoir sites involved in the 
proposed contract, and other lands absolutely essential to the develop¬ 
ment of the company’s plans. 

4. The right to control the development of jiower on these lands in 
the public interest. 

Under the proposed contract the United States gets— 

1. The riglit to use so much of the 54 acres of land owned by the 
company as may be necessary. 




TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. Hi 

2. E^lief from half the cost of a new dam, estimated by the Secre¬ 
tary of the Interior at $25,000. 

3. Kelief from liability for damage covered by terms of contract, 
estimated by the Secretary of the Interior at $10,000. 

4. Water estimated by the Secretary of the Interior as sufficient to 
irrigate (0,000 to 80,000 acres, which water, already appropriated by 
the United States, could be made available with equal certaintv by the 
condemnation of the 54 acres of land and the dam. 

Under the proposed contract the company gets— 

1. The right to a new power development, estimated by the Secre¬ 
tary of the Interior to develop 30,000 horsepower and reported to be 
several times larger, with the necessary rights of way for the distri¬ 
bution of the power. 

2. The right to maintain its present power developments in opera¬ 
tion and to select at any time during five years any or all reservoir 
sites and rights of way for flumes, ditches, tunnels, transmission lines, 
etc., on the public lands, within the watersheds of Lake Tahoe and 
Truckee River, necessary to satisfy vested rights to an amount not 
stated. 

3. Hence a monopoly of water power developed from the very im¬ 
portant watersheds of Lake Tahoe and the Truckee River. 

4. Ownership of this monopoly, without compensation to the peo¬ 
ple beyond the value of $91,000, entirely without annual charge, and 
in perpetuity, in direct opposition to the established policy regarding 
water powers. 

5. Perpetual protection, at Government expense, the water-yield¬ 
ing caj^acity of the national forest lands at the headwaters and 
sources from which this power is derived. 

The uncontrolled monopoly thus proposed to be assured by the Gov¬ 
ernment to the Truckee River General Electric Co. and its suc¬ 
cessor is— 

1. In violation of the established policy concerning Water power. 

2. In violation of the legal right and duty of the Secretary of Agri¬ 
culture to control the use of land within the boundaries of national 
forests and against his formal protest. 

3. In violation of the ruling of the Attorney General that coopera¬ 
tive assistance for the construction of irrigation works is not legal. 

4. In direct promotion of a well-known attempt to fasten an op¬ 
pressive monopoly of water power upon the inhabitants of the region. 

5. Apparently illegal, because it violates section 5 of the act of 
Congress, dated April 16, 1906 (34 Stat., 116), by granting to the 
company in perpetuity and free from the preference rights for munic¬ 
ipal purposes, the power developed, in part at least, under a project 
undertaken under the reclamation act. 

6. Apparently illegal, also, because no authority exists for giving 
more than a revocable permit to the company. Act of February 15, 
1901 (31 Stat., 790). 

7. Unnecessary, because the desirable public ends which it seeks 
to attain can be reached by another method (condemnation) without 
involving dangerous precedents or other injurious results. 

It is reported that this cooperative contract is an essential part of a 
very important consolidation and development of water-power inter¬ 
ests, whose field will extend from San Francisco to western Nevada. 
It is reported also that a corporation, the Lake Tahoe Water & Power 



112 


TKUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


Co., has been formed to take over the Truckee General Electric Co. 
with its subsidiary companies and other water-power companies, and 
that the consolidation is to supply power to move the trains of the 
Central Pacific Railroad Co. across the Sierra Nevada Mountains. 
If these reports are true, sustained public attention will be directed 
to all the facts in the case, including the proposed contract. 

Mr. W. P. Hammon, reported to be connected with the corporation 
organized to take over the rights under the proposed contract, was 
largely interested with H. H. Yard in the most extensive attempt yet 
made in the United States to secure possession of timber lands by 
illegal use of mining locations. He is largely interested in developed 
and undeveloped California water powers in the national forests. 

Mr. W. F. Bourn, reported to be connected with the corporation 
formed to take over the rights under this contract, is similarly inter¬ 
ested in securing water rights on public lands in California by meth¬ 
ods which have aroused vigorous opposition and complaint in the 
localities in which he is operating. 


United States Departiment of Agriculture, 

Forest Service, District 5, 

San Francisco^ Cal.^ August 3^ 1909. 

The Forestor, 

ashington^ D. C. 

Dear Sir: An investigation has been made of the probable reser¬ 
voir and power sites that will be applied for by the Truckee River 
General Electric Co. on the watersheds of Lake Tahoe and the 
Truckee River in accordance with the provisions of the pending con¬ 
tract between this company and the Department of the Interior. 

The available reservoir sites on these wTitersheds are AYebber Lake, 
Little Truckee No. 1, Henness Pass, Independence Lake, Twin Val¬ 
ley, Donner Lake, Squaw Valley, Dog Valley, and Little Truckee 
No. 2. All of these, with the exception of Little Truckee No. 2, which 
is situated on the Little Truckee River immediately north of Boca, 
were formerly recommended for construction by the Reclamation 
Service by L. H. Taylor wdiile supervising engineer of the Truckee- 
Carson project. All, with the possible exception of Little Truckee 
No. 2, are feasible reservoir sites, would be comparatively inexpensive 
for construction, and would have an aggregate storage capacity of 
90,000 to 100,000 acre-feet. 

The Reclamation Service, under date of October 13, 1908, with¬ 
drew for reclamation uses under first form all the lands around 
these reservoir sites, together with all land within 1 mile of the 
Truckee River, from Lake Tahoe to AVadsworth. (Telegram, Means, 
July 29, 1909.) According to the records of this office the recla^ 
mation withdrawals cover the lands given in the inclosed memo¬ 
randum. A large part of the lands covered by these withdrawals our 
records show to be not public lands, but railroad patented. State 
patented, homestead patented, cash entry, etc. Under each reservoir 
site is given in the memorandum the lands which the office records 
show to be public. 

In consideration of the contract with the Truckee River General 
Electric Co., it is uncertain what disposition the Reclamation Service 



TRUCKEE-CAKSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


113 


will make of these withdrawn lands. The terms of the contract, 
which allow the Truckee River General Electric Co. to make reser¬ 
voir locations on any lands “ belonging to or controlled by the Gov¬ 
ernment ” on the watersheds of Lake Tahoe or the Truckee River, 
would indicate that it is not the intention of the Reclamation Service 
to make use itself of the reservoir sites withdrawn. Whether, in the 
absence of intention to actually construct such reservoirs, it is the 
purpose of the Reclamation Service, on the ground that such lands 
are under the “control” of the Interior Department, to turn them 
over to the Truckee River General Electric Co., to Idc used in the 
furtherance of this company’s plans or to restore them to their origi¬ 
nal status of national-forest lands, is, of course, unknown. 

Were these lands under the primary control of th*e Forest Service, 
it would seem advisable that they should be withdrawn by the serv¬ 
ice as “power sites.” It may not be possible, however, to do so in 
face of the withdrawal for reclamation uses, even though such uses 
appear to be annulled by the terms of the contract with the Truckee 
River General Electric Co. On the other hand, it might not be 
deemed good policy to make such withdrawals for power sites, even 
if the right exists. It has seemed best, however, to state the situa¬ 
tion, that such action, if any, may be taken as seems advisable. 

There is a power site on Emerald Bay, on the shores of Lake 
Tahoe, not covered by reclamation withdrawals, of small capacity 
and yet one that might seem of sufficient value to the Truckee River 
General Electric Co. to be developed in conjunction with other plants 
upon the watershed of the Truckee River. It is, therefore, recom^ 
mended that the following public lands be withdrawn as a power 
site: SW i NE. i, NE. i NW. J, SW. i NW. i, SE. J NW. h NE. J 
SW. i, NW. i SW. i, SW. i SW i, all of sec. 28, T. 13 N., R. 17 E., 
M. D. M. 

Very truly, yours, Coert Du Bois, 

Acting District Forester, 

August 3, 1909. 


[Memorandum for Forester:] 

RESERVOIR SITES WITHDRAWN BY UNITED STATES RECLAMATION SERVICE, 
AUGUST 13, 190 8, FOR TRUCKEE-CARSON PROJECT, NEV. 

ehher Lahe Reservoir. —T. 19 N., R. 14 E., M. D. M. Sec. 20, 
E 4 SE 4: sec. 21, S. 4; sec. 27, W. 4 NW. i; sec. 28, entire; sec. 29, 
E. I; st. 32 E. 4 Wi NE. J, SE. i; sec. 33, NW. 4, W. 4; NE. i, 

^ Pubiic lands included in withdrawal: Sec. 28, E. 4 SE. 4; sec. 32, 
SAV SE 4 

Little Truckee Reservoir No. 1. —T. 19 N., R. 14 E., M. D. M. 
Sec 23, SE. -1: sec. 24, entire; sec. 25, entire; sec. 26, entire. 

Piiblic lands included: Sec. 24, NE. i, NW. i, SW. i 
T 19 N R 15 E., M. D. M. Sec. 16, entire; sec, 17, entire; sec. 
20, N. i NE. i, N. i NW. i ; sec. 21, N. J NE. i, N. J NW. T 
Public lands included: Sec. 20, N. i NE. i- at ty at 

Independence Lake Reservoir. —T. 19 N., R. 15 E., M. D. M. Sec. 

33, SE. 4; sec. 34, entire; sec. 35, entire. 

Public lands included: Sec. 34, SAV. \ NW. \. 

23914°—H. Doc. 451, 62-2-8 



114 


TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


T. 18 N., R. 15 E., M. D. M. Sec. 2 , NW. J; sec. 3, entire; sec. 4, 
entire; sec. 5, SE. J; sec. 8 , NE. N. J SE. 1 ; sec. 9, W. ^ NE. 
NAV. 4 , N. J SAV. i, NAV. 4 SE. 4 . 

Public lands included: Sec. 2, NE. 4 NAA^. 4? SAV'. 4 NAV. 4* SE. 4 
NAV. 4; sec. 4, entire; sec. 5, SE. 4; sec. 8, NE. 4? N. 4 SE. 4 ; sec. 9, 
AV. 4 NE. 4 ; NAV. 4 , N. 4 SAV. 4 , NAV. 4 SE. 4 . 

Henness Pass Reservoir. —T. 19 N., R. 16 E., M. D. M.; sec. 20, 
NE. 4 NAA/;. 4 , SAA^ 4 NAV. 4, SE. 4 NAV. 

No public land. 

Twin Valley Reservoir. —T. 18 N., R. 15 E., M. D. M.; sec. 13, 
S. 4 SAV. 4 ; sec. 14, S. 4 SE. 4 ; sec. 23, NE. 4 ; sec. 24, entire; sec. 25, 
N. 4 NE. 4 . 

Public lands induded: Sec. 24, SE. 4 NE. 4? NE. 4 NAV. 4? SAV. 4 
SE. 4; T. 18 N., R. 16 E., M. D. M.: sec. 19, SAV. 4 NAV. 4, AV. 4 
SAV. 4; sec. 30, NAV. 4 NAA\ 4 . 

No public lands included. 

Donner Lake Reservoir. —T. IT N., R. 15 E., M. D. M.; sec. 12, 
S. 4 SE. 4; sec. 13, entire; sec. 14, entire; sec. 15, entire. 

No public lands included. 

T. 17 N., R. 16 E., M. D. M.; sec. 7, S. 4 SAV. 4; sec. 17, entire; 
sec. 18, entire. 

No public lands included. 

Squaw Valley Reservoir. —T. 16 N., R. 16 E., M. D. M.; sec. 28, 
NAV. 4 SAA^ 4 ; sec. 29, NE. 4 , S. 4 SAA^ 4 , SE. 4 ; sec. 32, NE. 4 , 
NAA". 4 , N. 1 SAV. 4 , N. 4 SE. 4 ; sec. 33, NAV. 4 . 

Public lands included: Sec. 32, NAV. \ NAV. 4 , SAV. 4 NAV. 4, SE. 4 
NAV. 4 , N. 4 SAV. 4 , N. 4 SE. 4 . 

Dog Valley Reservoir. —T. 20 N., R. 17 E., M. D. M.; sec. 24, S. 4 
NE. 4 , S. 4 NAV. 4 , SAV. 4 , SE. 4 ; sec. 25, NE. 4 , NAA^ 4 , N. 4 SAV. 4 . 

Public lands included: Sec. 24, SAA^. 4 NAV. 4- 

T. 20 N., R. 18 E., M. D. M.; sec. 30, N. 4 NAV. 4, SAV. 4; sec. 31, 
NAV. 4 . 

All public land. 

Little Truckee Reservoir No. 2. —T. 18 N., R. 17 E., M. D. M.; 
sec. 16, entire; sec. 21 , entire; sec. 28, N. 4- 

Public lands included: Sec. 28, AA^ 4 NAV. 4* 


[ Telegram. ] 

Cleveland, Ohio, August 4, 1909. 

Price, 

Forestry^ W ashing ton.) D. C. 

Please send with Stahlnecker copy our Tahoe statement and latest 
Cunningham correspondence. 

PiNCHOT. 


United States Department of Agriculture, 

Forest Service, District 5, 

San Francisco.) Cal..) August 5, 1909. 
The Forester, Wasliington.) D. C. 

Dear Sir: I have made a field examination of the possible reser¬ 
voir sites on the watershed of the Little Truckee River, of the present 
Lake Tahoe outlet, and of the AVashoe Basin. These locations and 




TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


115 


their possible uses by the Truckee River General Electric Co., in 
pursuance of the terms of their contract with the Interior Depart¬ 
ment, have been thoroughly discussed with Mr. Maltby, as well as the 
probable effect of this contract if carried out in literal accordance 
with its provisions. 

I heartily concur in the conclusions reached in the report (“D”— 
Policy—Power—Truckee General Electric—Reclamation Service 
agreement) presented by Mr. Maltby. 

Very trul}^, yours, O. C. Merrill, 

Engineering Expert. 


United States Department of Agriculture, 

Forest Service, District 5, 

San Francisco.^ Cal.^^ August 4, 1900. 

To THE Forester: I have examined the agreement and made such 
examination on the ground of the central features as time and facili¬ 
ties permitted. Review of an agreement, loosely drawn as this 
seems to be and which does not include the usual map and plans, 
leads to rather unsatisfactory results. The company’s purposes can 
only be guessed at and the possibilities discussed. It is unlikely 
the company has itself reached a decision as to how it will develop 
the properties, it being given five years in which to select power 
and reservoir sites on the Lake Tahoe watershed and the Truckee 
River watershed (par. 7), maps and plans being required only as 
these selections are made; it is given five years additional in which 
to construct its works (par. 7), and its rights are perpetual and 
without charge (par. 7; par. 5, line 18). 

Lake Tahoe-Truckee River outlet. —The company agrees in para¬ 
graphs 1 to 4, inclusive, to relinquish to the Government the control 
and operation of this outlet, dam, and gates (par. 4), but not the 
fee of the property, on condition that certain flows of water be main¬ 
tained in the Truckee River at Floriston (par. 4, line 12), above the 
company’s present works and plants, and on the further condition 
that the Government pay all expenses of operating (par. 9, line 10) 
the gates, one-half the cost of construction (par. 11), repairs, and 
renewals (par. 9, line 7) of a new dam and gates to replace the 
present old wooden structure, release the company from all respon¬ 
sibility for damages (par. 8) to persons and property, and retain 
350 second-feet of the stored water in Lake Tahoe (par. 4, line 20) 
to meet the company’s requirements for power purposes during the 
fall and winter months subsequent to the irrigation season. 

Water available for irrigation purposes should be increased 
through the agreement covering the present outlet, possibly to the 
amount estimated by the Reclamation Service of 200,000 acre-feet. 

The new dam wfill not impound more water than formerly, but all 
may be discharged more effectively through the larger openings to 
be provided and by dredging the approach to a greater depth. 

It is assumed that the company’s claim to the ivater and its title 
to the present dam and location is good; that it will have a good 
title to the location of the new structure, and that it could have suc¬ 
cessfully prevented the Government from dredging and improving 



116 


TEUCKEE-CAESON-LAKE TAHOE PEOJECT. 


the I.ake Tahoe outlet, so as to fully utilize the surplus waters claimed 
by the Government. Under these circumstances the agreement up 
to this point seems reasonable and adequately compensates the com¬ 
pany for the simple relinquishment of its right to operate the gates. 

A knowledge of the location and careful reading of the agreement 
gives the impression that the agreement as originally considered 
was practically completed wuth the provisions of paragraph 4. It 
would seem that later additions were made that amount practically 
to a blanket permit covering the entire Lake Tahoe-Truckee River 
region without making the additions agree with the provisions of 
the original sections. 

JSecond diversion ,—The company is granted additional considera¬ 
tion in paragraph 5 and subsequent paragraphs, being permitted to 
divert the waters of Lake Tahoe at a point to be selected by it later 
and to be known as the “second diversion.” (Par. 5, line 15.) 

“ The company and its assigns * * * shall have the exclu¬ 
sive right to use the w^aters delivered and diverted * * * for 

such power purposes as it or they may desire at any point or points ” 
before the water is returned to the Truckee RiA^er. (Par. 6.) 

The Government agrees to deliver all the water of the lake there¬ 
after to the second diversion, including the surplus and unappro¬ 
priated water heretofore appropriated by the Government. (Par. 5, 
line 53; par. 10, line 11.) 

The Government also agrees to discontinue the use of the natural 
or Truckee River outlet after the second diversion outlet is completed, 
using the natural outlet for spillway purposes only. (Par. 5, line 53.) 

The company is apparently given the right to control and operate 
the second diversion outlet and the Government the right to “ regu¬ 
late.” (Par. 5, line 19.) The company therefore, when the second 
diversion is completed, Avill be given the control and operation of the 
only outlet to Lake Tahoe in use. 

The company may build reservoirs below the second diversion “ to 
store Avaters therefrom ” (par. 5, line 22) for poAver purposes. Com¬ 
pared Avith the supply through the natural outlet noAV used these 
storage requirements, together Avith the increased evaporation due to 
increased surface exposure, Avill result in a reduced supply of Avater 
for irrigation purposes. 

The only limit to Avhich the company is subjected is through the 
provision that the floAv at Clark Station shall not be less than before 
the second dUersion and additional reserA^oirs Avere permitted. (Par. 
5, line 37.) This, if based on the aAwage floAv as of date of signing 
contract and prior thereto, as I interpret it, Avould depriA-e the 
Reclamation Service of the increased Avater supply (200,000 acre- 
feet) secured through the construction of the neAv dam at the Truckee 
RiA^er outlet, and leave the Government in control and operation of 
the unused outlet only. 

The company is limited to the Avithdrawal of 475 acre-feet. (Par. 
5, line 29.) It is not clear where this limitation is to be applied. 

The GoA^ernment is released from liability for damages due to the 
discharge in the Truckee River of 2,500 second-feet. (Par. 8, line 8.) 
It would be difficult to determine in case of damage that it Avas caused 
by exactly this discharge. The Government does not seem to be 
actually released from any liability under this proAusion. 


TBTJCKEE-CAESON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


117 


The Government must operate and control the reservoir outlets 
storing the watep from second diversion, when completed, the same 
as provided for in paragraph 4 for the control and operation of the 
Truckee River outlet. (Par. 5, line 21.) Stored in reservoirs to the 
northeast of Lake Tahoe, probably the only feasible locations, the 
waters therefrom would be discharged 40 miles below Florist on, the 
point at which it is provided in section 4 the floAv of 400 to 500 
second-feet must be maintained, and hence nullifies that portion of 
section 4. It will be possible, however, to comply with the condition 
that a reserve of 350 second-feet be retained in the reservoir for the 
company's use during the fall and winter months, as is provided for 
in section 4. 

Survey of the region will be necessary to determine total power 
possibilities under the agreement. To the north and east of Lake 
Tahoe, using Lake Washoe for reservoir purposes, two power stations 
may be located with total possible output of G0,000 horsepower. 
Under the agreement also and in lieu of the above a power station 
with 500 feet head and about 15,000 horsepower capacity might be 
located near Truckee on the Truckee River, diverting the water at or 
near the present Lake Tahoe-Truckee River outlet. 

Forest reserve lands .—In paragraph 7 the company is permitted to 
occupy Government lands in the Truckee River watershed for storage 
purposes and for the location of power plants. A number of reservoir 
locations on the tributaries of the Truckee River have heretofore 
been surveyed by the Reclamation Service and recommended for con¬ 
struction. These locations were in part in the forest reserve, but 
were withdrawn by the Secretary of the Interior for reclamation pur¬ 
poses, and are no longer under the control of the Agricultural De¬ 
partment. 

The permission given in the agreement to the company to occupy 
these locations would indicate it is not the intention of the Reclama¬ 
tion Service itself to construct the reservoirs. It would seem some¬ 
what irregular for the Reclamation Service to withdraw forest lands 
for reclamation purposes, and, having thus obtained control, to turn 
the lands over to a power company for power purposes, for this use 
leaves only a small proportion of the stored water available for irri¬ 
gation during the irrigation season. A color of authority may be 
given for this by the use of the words “ for the use and benefit of the 
Truckee-Carson project.” (Par. 5, line 22.) Otherwise, it is un¬ 
likely the company will actually require the use of forest reserve 
lands to carry out the agreement. Dependent somewhat on the point 
at which the power is to be used it may find the use of forest lands 
for transmission lines necessary, and application will probably be 
made later for the right to so use some forest lands, at which time the 
usual conditions may be applied. 

Section 12 provides in effect the agreement may be canceled in 
case of a failure on the part of the Government to fulfill its terms in 
controlling the flow of water and as to delivery of water to the com¬ 
pany. And it is further provided if at any time there be a dispute 
between the parties as to the application of this provision, such dis¬ 
pute shall be decided by the Secretary of the Interior, whose deter¬ 
mination shall be final. 

In paragraph 5, line 17, provision is made that the second diversion 
outlet may not be higher than the natural outlet to the lake, but its 


118 


TEUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


depth is not limited. Retaining control and operation of the outlet 
the company, therefore, it would seem, has the enforcing of its rights 
under the agreement in some measure in its own hands and will not 
be compelled to rely entirely on the Government’s good faith and 
promise to deliver all the waters of the lake at the second diversion 
outlet, nor submit entirely to the decisions rendered by the Secretary 
of the Interior in case of disputes which, in view of the lack of cer¬ 
tainty given to the provisions of the agreement, the possible change 
of ownership and officials 10 years hence may be numerous. Resort 
to the courts under the circumstances would seem inevitable. They 
would hardly be ousted. 

Objections to the agreement are suggested: (1) Granting of the 
rights in perpetuity; (2) and without charge for the use of Govern¬ 
ment property; (3) contract is vague from the Government’s side and 
should be given greater certainty; (4) reasonably complete maps and 
plans not having been made a part of the agTeement; (5) no low 
level fixed for second diversion outlet; (6) the company is allowed 
excessive compensation for the mere relinquishment of the right to 
operate gates; (7) the net result of the making of the agreement is 
the assurance that the company’s operations shall not result in a less 
flow at Clark Station for the use of the Truckee-Carson reclamation 
project than heretofore. 

A. W. Maltby. 


Personal. 

August 5, 1909. 

Mr. CoERT Du Bois, San Francisco^ Cal. 

Dear Du Bois: Inclosed is a copy of a memorandum regarding 
the proposed contract between the Interior Dejiartment and the 
Truckee River General Electric Co., which Mr. Pinchot submitted 
to the President, and as the result of which the President took the 
action described in my last letter to you. It is of the utmost im¬ 
portance that the statements contained in this memorandum should 
be supported as fully as possible by the results of a study of condi¬ 
tions on the ground. If the study made by Mr. Maltby has already 
gone sufficiently deep to accomplish this, then no further study is 
necessary. If it has not done so, and my impression is that Mr. 
Maltby’s study had been somewhat general and hasty, then have him, 
if possible, or if it is not possible, have Merrill take the matter up 
thoroughly. If this matter comes up again when Secretary Bal¬ 
linger returns we want to be fully prepared at all points. Since 
Secretary Ballinger’s return is possibly some time in September, 
there is not much time to lose. I would like any useful information 
which we do not already possess regarding the essential points 
brought out in the memorandum generally. The most important of 
all is approximately how much power, in addition to the power it 
now controls, the Truckee River General Electric Co. would control 
as the result of the execution of this contract. If possible, I would 
like to haA^e separately an approximation of the power which the 
company would develop under the contract from the stored waters 
of Lake Tahoe and the poAver which they Avould develop from the 
Avatersheds of Lake Tahoe and the Truckee River. It is also im- 



TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 119 

portant to ascertain what reservoir sites on or off national forest land 
the company would control as the result of the execution of this 
contract and what rights of way across national forest land and 
other public lands would be necessary in order to utilize these powers. 
Nobody but yourself, Fritz, and the man who makes the examination 
on the ground should see the copy of Mr. Pinchot’s memorandum 
to the President, and it must be kept absolutely confidential, of 
course, for reasons outlined in my last letter. 

Your letter of July 31, with the clippings, has just come. I think 
the most effective way to meet them will be through the publicity 
gained under the plan involving Mr. Kent, about which I have 
Avritten you, and we should give nothing out from the service in this 
connection. It might be a good thing to make this plain to Maltby. 

Very sincerely, yours, 

Overton W . Price, 

Associate Forester, 

I also inclose a copy of the amended agreement as was prepared by 
the Interior Department, for which Mr. Maltby asked. 


U. S. Department of Agriculture, 

Forest Service, District 5, 

8an Francisco,^ Cal,^ August 1909, 

The Forester, 

W Gushing ton,, D, C, 

Dear Sir: I transmit herewith a report by Mr. Maltby on the 
proposed contract by the Reclamation Service and the Truckee 
River General Electric Co., together with a note by Expert O. C. 
Merrill, concurring in Mr. Maltby’s recommendations. 

Very truly, yours, 

COERT Du Bois, 
Acting District Forester, 


[ Telegram. 1 

San Francisco, Cal., August 11,, 1909, 

Price, 

Forest Service,, Washington, D. C.: 

Your letter August 5 to Du Bois received. Does Maltby’s report, 
transmitted August 6, contain all information desired or should fur¬ 
ther field examination be made to determine approximate power de¬ 
velopment? Maltby probably not available at present and Merrill 
on other important work, but examination can be made if essential. 

Olmsted. 


August 12, 1909. 

District Forester, 

San Francisco, Cal, 

Dear Mr. Olmsted : Mr. Du Bois’s letter of August 3, with inclos¬ 
ure, is received. The forester is glad to get the information your 
letter contains, but it is believed that the service should not at this 





120 


TKUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


time ask the Secretary of the Interior to make the withdrawals of 
the tracts already covered by the reclamation withdrawals and also 
the lands in section 28, T. 13 N., R. 17 E., M. D. M., known as the 
Emerald Bay Reservoir site. The question will be further con¬ 
sidered, however, upon Mr. Pinchot's return from the West. 

Very sincerely, yours, 

(Signed) W. J. Mangar, 

Acting Law Ojficer. 


[Telegram.] 


U. S. Department of Agriculture, 

Forest Service, 

Washington^ D. G.^ August 13^ 1909. 


Olmsted, 

Forest Service.^ San Francisco.^ Cal. 

Absolutely essential Merrill commence examination earliest pos¬ 
sible moment. He should give particular attention to ascertaining 
approximate power possibilities, territory involved, opportunity for 
monopoly, and other essential conditions needed as basis for final 
consideration proposed contract. Letter follows. 

Overton W. Price. 


[Telegram.] 

Washington, D. C., August 13., 1909, 

Gifford Pinchot, 

National Irrigation Congress., Spokane^ Wash.: 

(If not there ascertain new address and forward.) 

Just had satisfactory conference Senator Newlands, to whom pro¬ 
posed contract has been referred, about which you prepared memo¬ 
randum. Designation committee of which you will be member prob¬ 
able to investigate actual conditions and report fidly with recommen¬ 
dations. Letter Denver folloAvs. 

Price. 


August, 13, 1909. 

District Forester, 

San Francisco., Cal. 

Dear Fritz: I have just learned from Senator Newlands, with 
whom I had a two-hours’ conference this morning, that the President 
has referred the proposed contract with the Truckee River General 
Electric Co. to him for his recommendation. Senator Newlands will 
probably recommend to the President at once the immediate appoint¬ 
ment of a committee to study conditions on the ground and make their 
recommendations to him. This committee will probably consist of 
Mr. Pinchot, Newell, Leighton, the chief hydrographer of the Geo¬ 
logical Survey, and Marshall, chief of the Corps of Engineers, Whit¬ 
ney, chief of the Bureau of Soils, and an eminent engineer of national 
standing, whom the President will select. This gives us three men, 






TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


121 


Mr. Pinchot, Leighton, and Whitney, on our side from the beginning. 
Aewall and Marshall, Chief of Engineers, will be on the other side, 
but it is probable that the eminent engineer will see the thing straight 
and help to swell our majority. 

I have just wired you, I think it is absolutely essential that 
Merrill should commence an examination and ascertain, as far as pos¬ 
sible in advance of the work of the committee, what the essential 
facts are regarding conditions on the ground. Maltby’s reports have 
been valuable, but they lack the definiteness and also the adequacy 
which can come only from a thorough study of physical conditions 
on the ground itself. 

Very sincerely, yours, -^ 

Associate Forester. 


Please keep the proposed appointment of a committee by the 
President absolutely confidential. No one but you must know of it 
until it is done and made public. 


[Telegram.] 

San Francisco, Cal., August 15.^ 1909. 

Price, 

Forest Service., Washington.^ D. C.: 

Merrill begins examination Tahoe Truckee to-morrow. Action 
proposed lease land for ranger site on lake delayed account Kent 
being on hunting trip out of communication. He returns to-morrow. 

Olmsted. 


August 16, 1909. 

Mr. Gifford Pinchot, 

Care Forest Supervisor., Deadwood., S. Dak. 

Dear Mr. Pinchot: I had two conferences to-day with Senator 
Newdands, at the second of which Mr. Bien was present. 

The Senator will recommend to the President immediately the 
designation of yourself, Newell, Leighton, and Marshall, Chief of 
Engineers, to act as a committee in a thorough investigation of all 
conditions involved in the proposed contract with the Truckee River 
General Electric Co. Senator Newlands’s letter to the President will 
also suggest that the Reclamation Service employ an engineer of 
national reputation to share in the investigation conducted by this 
committee. Whitney will be left off', and as a matter of fact, he 
should be. 

Bien, of course, did his best to induce the Senator to recommend 
immediate action upon the contract, but happily there is no danger 
of that. The only thing I regret about the business is, that it roay 
interfere with your holiday, but I don’t believe it will do so seriously, 
because 10 days on the ground, at most, ought to be enough. 

Senator Newlands showed me the draft for his proposed letter to 
the President and let me make some suggestions regarding it, some 
of which he took. We would write the letter somewhat differently. 
But one of its good points is, that it makes absolutely plain that the 






122 


TEUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


central question involved is not the question whether the Reclamation i 
Service gets what it wants, but whether the proposed contract is in | 
accordance with the principles of conservation. This is brought out ? 
without taking sides, but it is brought out clearly. Naturally, Bien s 
and I differed at nearly every point in the second conference with I 
Senator Newlands. But we did so with entire friendliness, and there c 
was not and will not be any temper. I also made it plain to the | 
Senator, in a talk we had after Bien went away, that in this matter 
the service had never questioned the motive of the Reclamation Serv¬ 
ice, but only its judgment. 

I inclose a copy of a letter I am sending to-day to Secret^iry Gar¬ 
field. All well here. 

Sincerely, yours, Overton W. Price. 


August 16, 1909. 

Hon. James R. Garfield, 

Garfeld Building^ Cleveland^ Ohio. 

Dear Mr. Secretary : I had a note from Mr. Pinchot several days 
ago asking me to get the facts regarding Mr. Bien’s statement to Mr. 
Pinchot that last winter you were about to approve a contract with 
the Truckee River General Electric Co. similar to the one now pro¬ 
posed and to send these facts to you. 

I have discussed this matter thoroughly with Bien. His statement, 
in effect, is that a proposed contract with the Truckee River General 
Electric Co. was submitted to you by Mr. Newell in December, 1908; 
that you considered it informally, and that Bien thinks Mr. Newell 
thought that you thought it was all right. I asked him if the con¬ 
tract was the same contract as the one now proposed, to which he 
replied that he was not sure, but that he did not think it was. His 
further statement is that in April, 1908, you signed a short letter^ at 
Mr. Newell’s request, to the representative of the Timckee River Gen¬ 
eral Electric Co., stating that provided an agreement could be 
reached which would safeguard the public interest you would be glad 
to approve it. I asked him if this letter referred to any specific 
form of contract, either drawn or contemplated, and he said no. I 
asked him further whether, in his judgment, it bound the department 
to execute any contract at all with the Truckee River General Electric 
Co., and he said no. And I asked him still further whether, in his 
judgment, the writing of this letter by you could in any way be 
taken as a commitment of you to the execution of the contract now 
under consideration, and again he said no. 

To sum up, Mr. Bien’s statement to Mr. Pinchot that you were 
about to approve a contract similar to the one now proposed was, in 
my judgment, like other statements made by the Reclamation Service 
regarding the proposed contract, not untruthful in intent, but utterly 
misleading in effect. Mr. Bien, like Mr. Newell, has been and is still 
under heavy stress and has made partisan statements about the pro¬ 
posed contract which we would not have made were not the stress 
so severe. All this implies no criticism on my part of Bien per¬ 
sonally, because I like him, and I believe implicitly that he means to 
do right. 






TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


123 


I inclose a copy of a confidential letter to Mr. Pinchot regarding 
later developments in the Truckee River General Electric matter. A 
further conference with Senator Newlands this afternoon makes 
certain his immediate recommendation to the President of a com¬ 
mittee composed of the gentlemen enumerated in my letter to Mr. 
Pinchot, with the exception of Dr. Whitney. 

With best wishes, faithfully yours, 

Overton W. Price. 


[Telegram.] 

San Francisco, Cal., August 19y 1909. 
Forester, Washington^ D. C.: 

San Francisco papers report that on Kent’s protest the President 
has ordered delay on action Truckee General Electric contract pend¬ 
ing further investigation. Is this true, and if so, is proposed con¬ 
tract available for public scrutiny ? 

Olmsted. 


[Indorsement at top of following letter.] 

Dear Price : This is admirable, and so is your letter to Garfield. I 
don’t believe I shall miss my two weeks fishing anyhow. G. P. 


[Telegram.] 

U. S. Department of Agriculture, 

Forest Service, 

Washingtouy D. G.y August Wy 1909, 

District Forester, 

San Franciscoy Cal.: 

Should we be questioned regarding rumor that President will 
appoint committee to investigate, we must absolutely decline to dis¬ 
cuss it until officially informed that such a committee will or will 
not be appointed, when I shall wire you. I see no reason for with¬ 
holding essential points proposed contract, since it is in no sense 
confidential document. This should be done only to give information 
asked. 

Price. 


[Telegram.] 

U. S. Department of Agriculture, 

Forest Service, 

WashingtoUy D. G.y August 20y 1909, 

District Forester, 

San Franciscoy Gal,: 

My and your official statement must be that we are definitely and 
officially informed that action upon proposed Truckee River general 






124 


TET^CKEE-CAESON-LAKE TAHOE PEOJECT. 


electric contract is withheld, but that we decline absolutely to corn- 
ment in any way upon newspaper reports that this is at the Presi¬ 
dent’s direction. 

O. J. Pbice. 


[Telegram.] 

U. S. Department of Agriculture, 

Forest Service, 

Washington^ D, t7., August 1909. 

District Forester, 

San FranciscoGal,: 

I wrote you fully 13th regarding Truckee Kiver general electric. 
If letter has not come, please wire. 

O. J. Price. 


[Telegram.] 

San Francisco, Cal., August 1909. 

Price, 

Forest Service., Washington.^ D. C.: 

Have your letter 13th, but want official confirmation of newspaper 
reports. Also instructions as to whether the essential points in pro¬ 
posed contract may be given to public. 

Olmsted. 


August 24, 1909. 

Mr. Overton W. Price, 

Forest Service., Washington^ D. C. 

Dear Price : All well so far. Our friends the enemy failed to cap¬ 
ture the Trans-Mississippi Commercial Congress, although they did 
get the resolutions committee, but the resolution indorsing Eddy’s 
Public Domain League was turned down on the floor, thanks to 
Goudy. Also one indorsing the F. S. was passed. 

Mr. Hardtner, of Louisiana, is on the train and has just told me of 
a paper of F. C. Zachary, of New Orleans, which appeared about 
June 1 on “ The power of the State to control methods of cutting.” 
If you can lay your hand on it, I should greatly like to see a copy. 
It may be in conservation. 

If you have any chance, put off the examination of the Truckee- 
Tahoe matter until about October 1. In that case I shall be able to 
get my vacation. 

Kelleter is doing beautifully on the Black Hills. Things are quiet¬ 
ing down tremendously and it is becoming evident that the men who 
were opposing us there were principally promoters of fake mining 
companies. All well. I wish you were not in Washington. 

Sincerely, yours, 

Gifford Pinchot, Forester. 





TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


125 


[Telegram.] 

San Francisco, Cal., August 1909. 

Price, 

Forest Service., Washington., D. C.: 

Company at work at new dam at Tahoe. Kent fears they are 
planning to work estoppel on account lacher of Government and 
riparian owners. Kent would enjoin, except that he does not wish 
interfere with Truckee-Carson project. He will fight unless Gov¬ 
ernment stops them. Suit started by Kent may be hard to stop, as 
it is likely to be taken up by others having no sympathy with Rec¬ 
lamation plans. Wire advice. 

Olmsted. 


[Indorsement.] 

Until a conclusion is reached in reference to the contract now under 
consideration by the Government, Forest Service should not take or 
suggest any legal action. 


[Telegram.] 


U. S. Department of Agriculture, 

Forest Service, 

Washington., D. 6^., August 26,1909. 


Olmsted, 

San Francisco, Cal.: 


Construction dam will not prejudice Government’s case if pro¬ 
posed contract not executed. Not necessary from our standpoint for 
Kent to proceed, but he should do as he thinks best to protect his 
own interests. Our only and urgent duty this case is to gather all 
physical and other facts affecting proposed contract. 

Overton W. Price. 


August 26, 1909. 

When action is taken on this contract see letter of August 24, 1909. 
Mono uses California-Nevada Electric Power Co.’s reservoir and 
conduit. February 28, 1907. 

A. C. Shaw. 


[Telegram.] 

AVashington, D. C., August SI, 1909. 

Gifford Pinchot, ^ 

Care Forest Service, San Francisco, Cal.: 

Bien and I agree that appointment proposed committee Tahoe un¬ 
likely until after decision reached regarding other matters. Nothing 
in sight here to interfere or which should interfere Avalon. All well. 

Price. 





126 


TEUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


Possible Power Output of Truckee River Watershed Above Clark Station, 

Nev. 


August 31, 1909. 


WEBBER lake POWER PLANT. 

Location: Takes water from AVebber Lake. IMaiit locattnl on shores of Little 
Truckee Reservoir No. 1. Canal, 11 miles. 

Head available, ±200. 

Storage capacity, 20,000 acre-feet. 

Assumed evaporation losses, 1,600 acre-feet. 

Available uniform run-off, 42 second-feet. 

Power, at 80 per cent efficiency, 42X200Xjx=765 horsepower. 

independence lake power plant. 

Location: Takes water from Independence Lake. Power house located on 
canal from Little Truckee Reservoir No. 1 to Twin Valley. Length of canal, 
41 miles. 

Head available, ;±530. 

Storage capacity, 15,5(X) acre-feet. 

Assumed-evaporation losses, 1,S00 acre-feet. 

Available uniform run-off, 27 second-feet. 

Power, at 80 per cent efficiency, 27 X 530 Xxx—1,300 horsepower. 

TWIN valley power PLANT. 

Location: Takes water from Little Truckee Reservoir, delivering same at 
power house on shore of Twin Valley Reservoir. Canal, 15 miles. 

Head available, ±200 feet. 

Storage capacity: Little Truckee Reservoir No. 1, 60,000 acre-feet; Webber 
Lake Reservoir, 20,000 acre-feet. 

Evaporation losses, assumed, 5,000 acre-feet. 

Net storage capacity, 75,000 acre-feet. 

Available uniform run-off: Little Truckee No. 1, 137 second-feet; Lake Inde- 
liendence, 27 second feet; total, 164 second-feet. 

Power, at 80 per cent efficiency, 164X200X i^=3,000 horsepower. 

PROSSER creek POWER PLANT. 

Location: Takes water from Twin and Euer ATilleys, including the water 
from the Twin A'alley i^iower house. Length of canal, etc., 7 miles. 

Head available, ±500. 

Storage capacity: Twin Valley, 27,000 acre-feet; Euer Valley, 5,000 acre-feet. 
Evaporation losses, assumed, 2,000 acre-feet. 

Net storage, 30,000 acre-feet. 

Available uniform run-off: Twin and Euer Valleys, 62 second-feet; from 
Twin Valley power house, 164 second-feet; total, 226 second-feet. 

Power, at 80 per cent efficiency, 226 X 500XYV=ld,250 horsepower. 

TRUCKEE POWER PLANT. 

Location: Takes water from Donner, Cold, and Trout Creeks; power house 
just below highway bridge across Truckee River at Truckee. 

Canal length, ±4 miles. 

Head available, ±140 feet. 

Storage capacity, net, 45,000 acre-feet. 

Available uniform run-off, 89 second-feet. 

Power, at 80 per cent efficiency, 89X140XxV=l>130 horsepower. 

AVith 30,000 acre-feet storage. 

Available run-off, 68 second-feet. 

Power, at 80 per cent efficiency, 68X140XxV=^ld horsepower. 

BOCA POWER PLANT. 

Lower Prosser Creek development, taking water from Lower Prosser Creek, 
below outlet of Alder Creek, conducting same to power house at Boca. 

Canal length, ±4 miles. 


TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


127 


Head available, ±325 feet. 

Storage capacity, none. 

Available from regular flow of stream, 10 second-feet; available from Prosser 
Creek power bouse, 226 second-feet; total, 236 second-feet. 

Power, at 80 per cent efficiency, 236X325 Xty= 7,000 horsepower. 

Truckee River, Trnckee to Boca, canal, ±9 miles. 

Head available, 225 feet. 

Water available from Truckee power plant, 89 second-feet; from Truckee 
River, 30 second-feet; total, 119 second-feet. 

Power at 80 i>er cent efficiency, 119X225Xxt—->-100 horsepower. 

Total power, 9,400 horsepower. 

FLORISTON TOWER PLANT. 

(Using Truckee River from Boca to Floristou.) 

Head available, 235 feet. 

Water available from Prosser Creek, 236 second-feet; from Truckee River, 
119 second-feet; total, 355 second-feet. ET-om Little Truckee, 47 second-feet; 
grand total, 402 second-feet. 

Power at 80 per cent efficiency, 402 X 235Xxx =8,600 horsepower. 

Sununary of power developments above Floristou. 


liocation. 

Head. 

Wat^. 

Horse¬ 

power. 

Webber Lake. 

Feet. 

±200 

±530 

±200 

±500 

±140 

±32o 

±225 

±235 

Sec. feet. 
42 
27 
164 
226 
89 
236 
119 
402 

765 
1,300 
3,000 
10,250 
1,130 
7,000 
2,400 
8,600 

Indep)endence Lake. 

Twin Valley. 

Prosser Creek. 

Truckee. 


Floriston. 

Total . 

34,445 





POSSIBLE POWER DEVELOPMENTS FROM LAKE TAHOE. 

Lake Washoe power plant. 

Takes water by tunnels from Lake Tahoe to a point on shores of Lake Washoe 
near Franktown. 

Length of tunnel, 4 miles; canal and pipe, 1^ miles. 

Head available, ±1,150 feet. 

Water available 394 second-feet. 

Power at 80 per cent efficiency, 394 X 1,150 Xxi =41,200 horsepower. 

Little Valley development. 

Head available, ±1,400 feet. 

Water available, 15 second-feet. 

Power at 80 per cent efficiency, 15 X 1,400 Xxt= 1/-W0 horsepower. 

Total at Lake Washoe plant, 44,000 horsepower. 

Steamboat Valley power plant. 

Head available, +500 feet. 

Water available: Tahoe, 394 second-feet; Little Valley, 15 second-feet; total, 
409 second^feet. Evaporation losses in Washoe, 30,000 acre-feet, equals 41 
second-feet. Total available, 368 second-feet. 

Power at 80 per cent efficiency, 368 X 500 Xx'x =16,750 horsepower. 


















128 


TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


Clarks Station power plant. 

Truckee River, Vista to Clarks Station. 

Head available, ±200 feet. 

Water available: From Floriston plant, 402 second-feet; from Steamboat Val¬ 
ley plant, 368 second-feet; total 770 second-feet. Irrigation uses, Reno Valley, 
50 second-feet; Steamboat Valley, 20 second-feet. Available for power, 700 
SGCOncl-f G0t* 

Power at 80 per cent eflQciency, 700 X 200 Xy^j-=12,700 horsepower. 


Summary of development from Lake Tahoe and Lower Truckee River. 


Horsepower. 

Lake Washoe plant_ 44, 000 

Steamboat Valley plant_ 16, 750 

Clarks Station plant - 12,700 


Total_ 73, 450 

From Upper Truckee_ 34, 445 


Grand total 


107, 895 


Possible storage reservoirs and available capacities, Truckee River watershed. 


Acre-feet. 

Webber Lake_ 18, 400 

Little Truckee No. 1_ 56,600 

Henness Pass_ 19, 000 

Lake Independence_ 14, 700 

Twin Valley_ 25, 500 

Euers Valley_ ^ 4, .500 

Donner Lake_ 43, 000 

Squaw Valley_ ^ 4, 000 

Dog Valley_ 6,000 

Lake Tahoe_ 292, 000 

Lake Washoe_ 100, 000 

Little Valley_ ^ 2, 000 


Storage exclusive of Lake Tahoe_ 192, 000 


Present power development on Truckee River. 


Name. 

Water.® 

Head.® 

Horse¬ 
power, 
80 per 
cent 

efficiency. 

Floriston Pulp & Paper Co., at Floriston. 

Sec. feet. 
400 

400 

300 

300 

250 

Feet. 

56 

85 

126 

88 

41 

2,040 

3,090 

3,440 

2,400 

930 

Truckee River General Electric Co.: 

At Forad. 

At Fleish. 

Washoe Power & Development Co., at Mogul. 

Reno Power, Light & Water Co., at Reno .5,. 

Total. 

11,900 





* Not available for use as merely restorage of Lake Tahoe waters but, on contrary, 
entailing loss of 30,000 acre-feet by evaporation. ^ 

1 Estimated. 

2 From indenture dated Oct. 15, 1908. 







































TRUCKEE-CAESON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


129 


United States Department of Agriculture, 

Forest Service, District 5, 

San Francisco^ Cal.^ September 4, 1909, 
The Forester, Washington^ D. C, 

Dear Sir: I am inclosing you herewith a memorandum prepared 
by Mr. Merrill, of this office, showing approximately the possible 
gower output of the Truckee River watershed, above Clark Station, 

It is hoped early next week to be able to get information concern¬ 
ing the early history, organization, and transferred rights of the 
power plants now operating on the Truckee River. This informa¬ 
tion will be embraced in a formal report, which will soon be sub¬ 
mitted, together with maps showing the location of the present power 
plants and the possible location for other power plants on the water¬ 
shed of the Truckee River. 

Very truly, yours, ^ G. M. Homans, 

Acting District Forester, 


September 7, 1909. 

Mr. O. C. Merrill, 

San Fra'}icisco^ Cal, 

My Dear Mr. Merrill : I am greatly in your debt for the parallel 
column copy of the Garfield-Ba]linger contracts. I am sending 
copies of these to Mr. Garfield and Mr. Price. Personally, I have not 
yet had time to look them over, but shall take the papers with me to 
San Clemente and go over them then. 

I am greatly in your debt for your prompt attention to this matter. 
Very sincerely, yours. 


Forester, 

Signed (by instructions) in the absence of Mr. Pinchot. 


United States Department of Agriculture, 

Forest Service, Angeles National Forest, 

Los Angeles,^ Cal,,, September 7, 1909, 

Mr. Overton W. Price, 

Associate Forester,, Washington,, D, C, 

Dear Price : The inclosed parallel column comparison of the Gar- 
field-Ballinger Truckee general electric contracts was made by Mr. 
O. C. Merrill, of the San Francisco office, showing whether or not 
it was true that Mr. Garfield, as claimed by the reclamation people, 
had approved a contract substantially like the one to ^hich we 
object. 

I have not had time to go over it yet, but shall before I get back 
from San Clemente, and there is little to do, anyhow, as to the facts 

23914°—H. Doc. 451. 62-2-9 





130 


TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


of the matter. I am more and more clear that we have got that 
situation just where we want it. 

Yours, as always^ 

Gifford Pinchot, Forester, 

Signed (by instructions) in the absence of Mr. Pinchot. 

(Incls.:) 


GARFIELD CONTRACT. 

This indenture, made and entered 
into this 15th day of October, 1908, 
by and between Murray F. Vandall 
and Sonia F. Vandall, his wife, of the 
city and county of San Francisco. 
State of California, parties of the first 
part, and the United States of Amer¬ 
ica, party of the second part. 

Witnesseth : 


That the said parties of the first 
part, in consideration of the sum of 
one (1) dollar to them in hand paid by 
the said party of the second part, the 
receipt of which is hereby acknowl¬ 
edged, and in consideration, further, 
of the conditions, covenants, and 
agreements of the said party of the 
second part hereinafter expressed and 
contained, do by these presents grant, 
bargain, and sell, convey and confirm 
unto the said party of the second part, 
its successors and assigns: 

All that certain piece or parcel of 
land, comprising about fifty-four (54) 
acres, situate in the county of Placer, 
State of California, being portion of 
section seven (7), in township fifteen 
(15) north, of range seventeen (17) 
east. Mount Diablo base and meridian, 
according to the United States Gov¬ 
ernment survey, and being particu¬ 
larly bounded and described as fol¬ 
lows, to wit: 


Beginning at the northwest corner 
of the northwest quarter (i) of the 
northwest quarter (i) of section seven 
(7) in township fifteen (15) north, 
range seventeen (17) east, Mount Di¬ 
ablo base and meridian, according 
to the United States Government 
survey; thence south and along the 


BALLINGER CONTRACT. 

This agreement, made this thir¬ 
teenth day of May. 1909, by and be¬ 
tween the Truckee River General Elec¬ 
tric Company, a corporation organized 
and existing in the State of California, 
its successors and assigns, party of 
the first part, hereinafter styled the 
“ Company,” and the United States, 

acting in this behalf by-, 

Director of the United States Recla¬ 
mation Service, and subject to the ap¬ 
proval of the Secretary of the Inte¬ 
rior, party of the second part. 

Witnesseth : 


Whereas, the company claims title 
to a tract approximately fifty-four 
acres, in the State of California, at 
the outlet of Lake Tahoe into Truckee 
River, together with the dam now con¬ 
structed upon said premises near the 
head of Truckee River and the tene¬ 
ments. hereditaments, appurtenances, 
and easements thereunto belonging, 
and by means of said dam now regu¬ 
lates the flow of waters so as to be 
available for use in the operation of 
several plants and factories on Truckee 
River hereinafter mentioned; and 





TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


131 


west boundary of said northeast quar¬ 
ter of the northwest quarter of sec¬ 
tion seven, four hundred and fifty 
(450) feet; thence east four hundred 
(400) feet; thence south eight hun¬ 
dred and seventy (870) feet to the 
south boundary of said northeast 
quarter of northwest quarter of sec¬ 
tion seven; thence east along sjiid 
south boundary two hundred and four 
(204) feet and to a point twenty (20) 
feet easterly from the easterly bank 
of the Truckee River; thence north 
fifty-two (52) degrees east, four hun¬ 
dred and sixty-three (463) feet, and 
to a point twenty (20) feet easterly 
from said easterly bank; thence south 
fifty-one degrees east four hundred 
and sixty-three (463) feet to the south¬ 
east corner of said northeast quarter 
of northwest quarter of section seven; 
thence south forty degrees four min¬ 
utes east one thousand and eighty-one 
(1,081) feet, and to the westerly shore 
of Lake Tahoe; thence northerly along 
the westerly shore of Lake Tahoe to 
the corner of fractional sections six (6) 
and seven (7) in said township and 
range; thence west along the north 
boundary of said section seven, two 
thousand and eight (2,008) feet to the 
place of beginning. 

Together with the dam now con¬ 
structed upon said premises near the 
head of Truckee River, and all other 
tenements, hereditaments, and appur¬ 
tenances thereunto belonging or in 
anywise appertaining, and the rever¬ 
sion and reversions, remainder and re¬ 
mainders, rents, issues, and profits 
thereof; 

And also all other privileges, rights, 
and easements granted to or released 
in favor of the party of the first part 
by the Donner Lumber and Boom 
Company by deed dated October 23, 
1902, and recorded in Book 78, at page 
565, records of Placer County, Cali¬ 
fornia. 




/ 




Whereas, the United States desires 
to utilize the waters stored in Lake 
Tahoe, in connection with the Truckee- 
Carson project in Nevada, constructed 
under the provisions of the act of Con¬ 
gress approved June 17, 1902 (32 

Stat., 388), known as the reclamation 
act, and claims under appropriations 
made by it or on its behalf the un¬ 
appropriated and surplus waters of 
Lake Tahoe and the Truckee River 
for irrigation and other uses in con¬ 
nection with said Truckee - Carson 
project and in this connection has also 
reserved the public lands along the 
shores of I.ake Tahoe and in the im¬ 
mediate vicinity; and 


132 


TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


To have and to bold all and singu¬ 
lar the said premises, together with 
the appurtenances, unto the said party 
of the second part, and to its succes¬ 
sors and assigns forever. 

Subject, nevertheless to the follow¬ 
ing conditions, covenants, and agree¬ 
ments, all of which, by the acceptance 
of this conveyance, are assumed and 
agreed to be performed by the said 
party of the second part, its successors 
and assigns, namely: 


It is understood by the parties hereto 
that the said lands and the said dam 
thereon were heretofore acquired, and 
until the execution of this conveyance 
have been held by the parties of the 
first part for the purpose of controlling 
and regulating the flow of water from 
Lake Tahoe down the Truckee River, 
where such water is used in the oper¬ 
ation of five certain power plants or 
factories located upon the banks of 
said river, and extending from Floris- 
ton to a point near, the town of Reno. 


The said power plants or factories 
are of the description and character 
set forth in the following schedule: 


Whereas the parties hereto now de¬ 
sire to provide for the utilization of 
all the waters of Lake Tahoe and of 
the Truckee River for irrigation and 
power purposes in such manner as to 
protect all vested rights to the use 
thereof for such purposes, and also to 
avoid waste of any such waters, as far 
as may be practicable, and generally 
to cooperate to the fullest extent for 
the beneficial utilization of the waters 
of Lake Tahoe; and 

Whereas it is claimed by the com¬ 
pany that the said lands, aggregating 
approximately fifty-four acres, and the 
dam thereon and rights appurtenant 
thereto at the outlet of Lake Tahoe 
into Truckee River were acquired, and 
are now held and have for a long time 
been held and controlled by the com¬ 
pany for the purpose of controlling 
and regulating the flow of water from 
Lake Tahoe down the Truckee River, 
where such water is used in the opera¬ 
tion of five certain power plants or 
factories located upon the banks of 
said river and extending from Floris- 
ton, in California, to a point at or 
near Reno, in Nevada. 

The said power plants or factories 
are of the description and character 
set forth in the following schedule: 


Name. 

Location. 

Diversion 
capacity 
(cubic 
feet per 
second). 

Head 

(feet). 

Floriston Pulp & 
Paper Co. 

Floriston.. 

400 

56 

Trackee River 
General Electric 
Co. 

Farad. 

400 

85 

Do. 

Fleish. 

300 

126 

Washoe Power & 
Development Co. 

Mogul. 

300 

88 

Reno Power, Light 
& Water Co. 

Reno. 

2i0 

41 


Name. 

Location. 

Diversion 
capacity 
(cubic 
feet per 
second). 

Floriston Pulp & Paper 
Co. 

Floriston.... 

400 

Truckee River General 
Electric Co. 

Farad. 

400 

Do. 

Fleish. 

300 

Washoe Power & Devel¬ 
opment Co. 

Mogul. 

300 

Reno Power, Light & 
Water Co. 

Reno. 

300 


It being understood and agreed by 
the parties hereto that the amounts 
of water above specified are sufficient 
for all of said plants and factories, 
the same waters being used succes¬ 
sively by each of them as such waters 
pass down the said river. 

And this conveyance is executed 
upon and subject to the condition, cov¬ 
enant, and agreement that after the 
execution thereof, the flow of waters 
from Lake Tahoe down the Truckee 


Therefore, the said parties hereof 
do agree: 

1. It is agreed and understood that 
the amounts of water above specified 
are sufficient for all of said plants and 
factories, the same waters being used 
successively by each of them as such 
waters pass down the said river. 

2. It is further understood and 
agreed that in order that the flow of 
said waters shall continue to be avail¬ 
able for use in the operation of said 
plants, it is necessary that the gates 
























TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


133 


River shall be so controlled and regu¬ 
lated that the said waters shall con¬ 
tinue to be available for use in the 
operation of each of the said plants 
and factories. And to that end there 
shall be maintained a flow of water 
in the said river at Floriston afore¬ 
said of not less than 500 cubic feet 
per second from the tirst day of IMarch, 
to the 30th day of September, inclu¬ 
sive, in each year, and at not less 
than 400 cubic feet per second from 
the first day of October to the last 
day of February, inclusive, in each 
year. 


That such flow shall be maintained 
each year so long as the said water 
is required for the use of opera¬ 
tion of the said five plants or facto¬ 
ries, or any of them, by the present 
owners or holders thereof, their suc¬ 
cessors or assigns; and also to that 
end that no part of the said waters 
flowing in the said river between Flor¬ 
iston aforesaid and the head gates of 
the canal of the Reno Power, Light 
& Water Company, near Reno, shall 
be diverted from the said river by the 
said party of the second part, its suc¬ 
cessors or assigns. 


of the dam at the lake outlet should 
be so manipulated that the fiow of 
the Truckee River at Floriston, in the 
State of California, shall not be less 
than 500 cubic feet per second from 
the first day of March to the thirtieth 
day of September, inclusive, in each 
year, and not less than 400 cubic feet 
per second from the first day of Octo¬ 
ber to the last day of February, in¬ 
clusive, ill each year. 


and so that the lake elevation on the 
first day of October shall be such that 
it shall be practicable to draw 350 
cubic feet per second at any time in 
the months of October, November, and 
December. 


3. In order that there shall be se¬ 
cured to the United States for the irri¬ 
gation and other uses of the Truckee- 
Carson project all the water supply 
available by storage in Lake Tahoe, 
subject only to the conditions of fiow 
and Other conditions herein in this 
agreement fixed by the parties, the com¬ 
pany covenants and agrees forthwith 
to reconstruct its said dam at Lake 
Tahoe and to build new outlet works 
in connection therewith, also gate¬ 
keeper’s buildings, and perform the 
necessary dredging in accordance with 
plans to be approved by the Director 
of the Reclamation Service, and to 
push such construction to completion 
at the earliest date practicable, and 
to complete the same or such parts 
thereof as the Director of the Reclama¬ 
tion Service may require on or before 
November 1, 1909. Prior to November 
1, 1909, such changes in the bridges, 
grade, and track of the Lake Tahoe 
Railway and Transportation Company 
as may be necessary for the discharge 
of twenty-five hundred cubic feet of 
water per second down the Truckee 
River without damage to the railroad 
shall be provided and the expense 
thereof shall be borne by the com- 


134 


TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


pany; and until such changes are 
made, the company shall be responsi¬ 
ble for all damage to lands or property 
on the margin of Lake Tahoe or along 
the Trnckee River, and the company 
agrees that it will secure the full con¬ 
sent of the Lake Tahoe Railway and 
Transportation Company for the doing 
of such work. The company shall not 
be required to do any work of con¬ 
struction or reconstruction of the dam 
and outlet works which will affect 
vested rights in respect to the waters 
of Lake Tahoe and Truckee River as 
the same now exists, or which will 
subject it to claims for damage or in¬ 
jury in respect thereof. 

4. The company agrees that, subject 
to the conditions of flow and the other 
terms and conditions of this agree¬ 
ment, the United States, commencing 
on the first day of November, 1909, 
shall have the actual and exclusive 
control and operation of said dam and 
outlet works, and the proper officers 
and agents of the United States shall 
at all times have unrestricted access 
to the 'premises and the right to use 
the same and the buildings and works 
thereon for the purposes of such con¬ 
trol and operation. The United States 
covenants and agrees that after as¬ 
suming control hereunder it will at all 
times properly provide for such con¬ 
trol and operation under the terms of 
this agreement and will pay all the 
cost and expense of the same. In the 
operation of said works for the con¬ 
trol of the outflow of Lake Tahoe the 
United States covenants and agrees to 
so manipulate the gates of the dam at 
the lake outlet that the flow of the 
Truckee River at Floriston, in the State 
of California, shall not be less than 
500 cubic feet per second from the 
first day of March to the thirtieth day 
of September, inclusive of each year, 
and not less than 400 cubic feet per 
second from the first day of October 
to the last day of February, inclusive, 
in each year, and so that the lake ele¬ 
vation on the first day of October will 
be such that it shall be practicable to 
draw 350 cubic feet per second at any 
time in the months of October, No¬ 
vember, and December. Subject to 
the aforesaid conditions of flow and 
lake level and subject to the rights of 
the company and other owners to 
maintaini and operate at all times their 
respective plants and factories as 
aforesaid, and subject to the vested 
rights in Lake Tahoe and in the 
Truckee River, the United States in 
the operation of said outlet works 


TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


135 


shall have and may exercise the ex¬ 
clusive right to regulate the flow of 
water through said works in such 
manner as may be deemed best by the 
United States to secure for its use in 
the Truckee-Carson project, for irri¬ 
gation and other purposes, all the wa¬ 
ter supply available by storage in 
Lake Tahoe. The company agrees 
that after July 1, 1909, and prior to 
turning over the exclusive control of 
the dam and outlet works of Lake 
Tahoe to the United States, the com¬ 
pany will operate the gates for the 
discharge of water into Truckee River 
according to such schedule, not incon¬ 
sistent with the terms of this con¬ 
tract, as may be furnished by or un¬ 
der authority of the Director of the 
Reclamation Service. 

5. Whenever the company shall re¬ 
lieve the United States from its agree¬ 
ment to operate the outlet works, so 
as to deliver water in the manner and 
in the amount as hereinbefore speci¬ 
fied, from Lake Tahoe to the power 
plants on the Truckee River, and the 
company shall, to the satisfaction of 
the Secretary of the Interior, assume 
the liability for and the responsibility 
of protecting and satisfying vested 
rights of all kinds on the Truckee 
River, above Clarks Station bn the 
Southern Pacific Railroad, said sta¬ 
tion being situated above the head of 
the canal constructed by the United 
States, and shall have made adequate 
provision to protect and satisfy all 
riparian, vested, and other rights to 
the satisfaction of the Secretary of the 
Interior; then the United States agrees 
that said company shall, subject to 
the provisos hereof, be entitled to di¬ 
vert water for power purposes at a 
point, hereinafter styled the second 
diversion, to be selected by the com¬ 
pany on the margin of Lake Tahoe, 
and if on public land to be subject to 
approval by the Secretary of the In¬ 
terior, not higher than the natural 
outlet of said lake, and without charge 
other than the stipulations of this 
agreement: Provided, That the regula¬ 
tion of the discharge through the out¬ 
let from Lake Tahoe at point of sec¬ 
ond diversion and the control and oper¬ 
ation of any storage reservoirs built 
by the company to store waters there¬ 
from for the use and benefit of the 
Truckee-Carson project shall be by the 
United States acting directly through 
its agents, the control of the United 
States of outlet works of such storage 
reservoirs to be in like manner as pro¬ 
vided in paragraph 4 for control of 
the outlet works from Lake Tahoe 


136 


TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 

into Trnckee River, the United States 
agreeing that the control of outlets 
from such storage reservoirs shall be 
such as to avoid, so far as possible, 
all waste of water: Provided further. 
That the company shall not draw water 
in excess of 475 acre-feet in any one 
civil day, when such draft is pro¬ 
hibited by the Director of the Recla¬ 
mation Service; And provided further. 
That in case of such second diversion 
a sufficient quantity of water shall, by 
storage or other means to be provided 
by the comjiany, be delivered to the 
Trnckee River at or above the place 
of diversion for said Truckee-Carson 
project, near Clarks Station, in such 
manner that the second diversion shall 
not have the effect of diminishing the 
quantity of water flowing in said 
Trnckee River, near Clarks Station, 
and which would be available for the 
use of the said Truckee-Carson project, 
in case no such second diversion for 
power purposes from Lake Tahoe 
were made or storage additional to 
Lake Tahoe were provided. In the 
event of such diversion, all storage 
works built by the company for the 
use and benefit of said Truckee-Carson 
project shall be subject to approval, 
both as to design and construction, by 
the Director of the Reclamation Serv¬ 
ice. In order that the company shall 
enjoy the full benefit of any such sec¬ 
ond diversion, the United States 
agrees, when such second diversion is 
made, that, subject to performance and 
satisfaction by. the company of the 
conditions of this paragraph, the 
United States will so control the out¬ 
let works of Lake Tahoe into the 
Truckee River that such second diver¬ 
sion can be utilized and so that there 
will not be a greater discharge of the 
water of the lake into the Truckee 
River than is necessary to prevent 
damage from high water in Lake 
Tahoe or to satisfy rights on the river 
not otherwise provided for. 

6. The company and its assigns, in 
case of such diversion, shall have the 
exclusive right to use the waters de- 
* livered and diverted, in pursuance of 

paragraph 5, for such power purposes 
as it or they may desire at any point 
or points before such diverted waters 
are taken into the Truckee-Carson 
canal by the United States at the head- 
works near Clarks Station, but in such 
manner that, subject to the terms 
hereof respecting the flow above speci¬ 
fied, there shall be no unnecessary 
waste of water available for the 
Truckee-Carson project. 


TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


137 


7. The TTnitecl States agrees that the 
company in accordance with and sub¬ 
ject to the laws of the United States, 
shall have the right to build dams and 
overflow such lands belonging to or 
controlled by the United States in the 
watersheds of Lake Tahoe and the 
Truckee River as may be necessary for 
the purpose of creating water storage 
to satisfy vested rights on the Truckee 
River, and the company shall file a 
designation of such places and lands 
with the Secretary of the Interior 
within five years from the date of this 
agreement, and shall build and com¬ 
plete all said works within five years 
of the date of the acceptance of each 
such designation, otherwise this stipu¬ 
lation, unless renewed in writing, shall 
by its own terms expire. The United 
States further agrees, in accordance 
with and subject to the laws of the 
United States that the company shall 
have the right to construct and prop¬ 
erly maintain such power plant or 
plants, with appurtenances and con¬ 
nections, as the company or its assigns 
from time to time may elect on land 
owned or controlled by the United 
States and as may be necessary to 
utilize the waters of Lake Tahoe" and 
the Truckee River and tributaries be¬ 
low the outlet of Lake Tahoe in con¬ 
nection with the purposes of this 
agreement: Provided, however. That 
all such plants shall be designated by 
a document in writing to be filed with 
tlie Secretary of the Interior within 
five years from the date hereof, and 
shall be completed within five years 
from the date of the acceptance of 
each such designation, otherwise this 
stipulation, unless renewed in writing, 
shall, by its own terms, expire, and 
shall also, in accordance with and sub¬ 
ject to the laws of the United States, 
have the right of ingress or egress on 
such Government land and the right 
thereon to carry pipes, tracks and 
roadways, to place poles, and to run 
w’ires underground or overhead as may 
be necessary in connection with the 
proper and satisfactory operation and 
maintenance of such plants as are built 
to utilize said water in case of such 
diversion: Provided, hoivever. That all 
maps of location on public lands 
within national forests shall in each 
instance be subject to the approval of 
the Secretary of Agriculture, to be 
given in writing, and no such right 
shall be exercised until such written 
approval is given by said Secretary. 

8. The United States convenants and 
agrees that after it assumes operation 
of the dam and outlet works here- 


138 


TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


It is further covenanted and agreed 
that in case such flow of the Truckee 
River, as hereinbefore described, shall 
not be so maintained, and thereby 
there shall be a scarcity of water or 
power for the use of the said plants or 
factories, or any of them, the said 
party of the second part, its succes¬ 
sors and assigns, shall assume and 
guarantee the furnishing of power for 
the use and operation of each of the 
said power plants or factories, so that 
they shall receive the equivalent of a 
flow of the Truckee River to the ex¬ 
tent above mentioned; if electric 
motors or other new apparatus or 
machinery be required for the use of 
power so furnished, the same shall be 
supplied with such power by the said 
party of the second part: 

Provided nevertheless, That such 
guarantee and assumption shall not 
apply in case the failure to maintain 
the flow aforesaid shall have been 


under and after the completion of the 
Lake Tahoe Dam, outlet works and 
railroad reconstruction as hereinbe¬ 
fore si)ecified, it will protect and save 
harmless and indemnify the company 
against all claims for damages to 
persons or property, including the dam 
and other property of the Company, 
due to the operation of the dam and 
outlet works; but the United States 
shall not be held liable for damage to 
any property or interests below the 
outlet works resulting from a dis¬ 
charge of 2500 cubic feet of water per 
second from Lake Tahoe into Truckee 
River. The company agrees to hold 
the United States harmless against all 
claims for damage due to the opera¬ 
tion of the gates at the outlet, prior to 
the completion of the said Lake Tahoe 
Dam, outlet works, and railroad recon¬ 
struction. 

9. The company shall provide for all 
needful repairs and renewals of all its 
works which are under the control of 
the United States, and shall promptly 
provide for such repairs or renewals 
as may be deemed necessary by the 
Director of the Reclamation Service 
and in case of failure to do so after 
due notice, such work may be done by 
the United States at the expense of 
the company: Provided, That the cost 
of all repairs and renewals of any 
works or structures at the outlet from 
Lake Tahoe into Truckee River shall 
be borne equally by the company and by 
the United States: Provided further. 
That the United States shall pay all 
expenses of operation of all works of 
the company which are operated by 
the United States. 


10. The United States shall not in 
any manner be liable for failure to 
maintain the flow of water specified 
in the several paragraphs of this 


TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


139 


caused by extraordinary drought, or 
other act of God, or the public enemy, 
and shall not have been caused or con¬ 
tributed to by the drawing of water 
from Lake Tahoe by or under the 
direction or authority of the party of 
the second part, its successors or as¬ 
signs; And promded further. That 
until the construction of a new dam or 
other works by the said party of the 
second part, the flow of water down 
the said river shall be subject to and 
dependent upon the capacity of the 
dam now existing. 


It is further covenanted and agreed 
that the premises herein granted shall 
not revert to the grantor, his heirs or 
assigns, by reason of any temporary 
or partial breach or failure of per¬ 
formance of any of the conditions, 
covenants, or agreements herein con¬ 
tained, but shall so revert only, at the 
option of the grantor, his heirs or as¬ 
signs, in the event that performance 
of such conditions, covenants, or agree¬ 
ments shall be abandoned or repudi¬ 
ated by the party of the second part. 


agreement when such failure shall 
have been caused by extraordinary 
drought or other act of God or the 
public enemy or by unlawful interfer¬ 
ence; but it is agreed and understood 
that the United States shall have the 
right, subject to the specifications of 
flow herein made, to draw water from 
Lake Tahoe at any time and in such 
quantity as in the judgment of the 
Director of the Reclamation Service 
may be necessary to prevent damage 
to lands on the margin of Lake Tahoe, 
and in such case so much of said water 
shall be delivered to the company as 
may be requested by it. It is also 
understood and agreed that, until com¬ 
pletion of the new dam and other 
works by the company the flow of 
water down the Truckee River shall 
be subject to and dependent upon the 
capacity of the works now existing. 

11. In further consideration of the 
stipulations and agreements of this 
contract the United States will pay to 
the company, upon the completion of 
the dam, outlet works, gatekeeper’s 
buildings, and required dredging at the 
outlet of Lake Tahoe, an amount equal 
to one-half the reasonable and neces¬ 
sary cost thereof as determined by the 
director, and upon the completion of 
said works at the Tahoe outlet the 
United States will execute, without 
other rental charge than the stipula¬ 
tion hereof, and upon conditions satis¬ 
factory to the Director of the Reclama¬ 
tion Service, a ten-year lease for the 
tract of land purchased by the United 
States from the Mercantile Trust Com¬ 
pany, by deed dated August 9, 1904, 
and recorded in book 86, of deeds, at 
page 22, records of Placer County, 
California. 

12. It is understood and agreed that 
the agreements on the part of the 
United States herein contained as to 
regulating and controlling the flow of 
water, and as to delivery of water in 
case of diversion, are the chief consid¬ 
erations moving the company to exe¬ 
cute this agreement, without which 
and confidence in the performance of 
which by the United States, this agree¬ 
ment would not be made. The control 
of the dam and works aforesaid is 
given to the United States for the pur¬ 
pose of fulfilling the said provisions of 
this agreement, and such control shall 
continue only so long as it shall be 
exercised in the fulfillment of such 
purposes; if at any time there be a 
dispute between the parties as to the 
application of this provision, or the 
construction thereof, or as to the 
rights of either party under the same, 


140 


TKUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


It is further covenanted and agreed 
tliat all the covenants and agreements 
herein contained shall be binding 
upon and inure to the benefit of the 
parties hereto, their several and re¬ 
spective heirs, executors, administra¬ 
tors, successors, and assigns, and shall 
run with the land. It is also under¬ 
stood and agreed that all of the con¬ 
ditions, covenants, and agreements 
herein contained have been made and 
entered into in the interest of, and for 
the benefit of, the several owners of 
the said power plants and factories, 
their several and respective heirs, ex¬ 
ecutors, administrators, successors, and 
assigns. 


such dispute shall be summarily de¬ 
cided by the Secretary of the Interior 
then in office, whose determination 
shall be final and conclusive upon both 
parties. 

No person, firm, or corporation other 
than the United States, and no assign 
of the United States, whether by stat¬ 
ute or otherwise, shall have any right 
to regulate or control the outlet works 
of the company under this agreement. 
This agreement shall inure to the 
benefit of, and bind the successors and 
assigns of, the company as well as the 
company itself. 


13. This agreement shall not oper¬ 
ate to bind the United States until it 
shall have been approved by the Secre¬ 
tary of the Interior, whose approval 
or disapproval will be signified within 
thirty days from receipt of copy hereof 
duly executed by the company. 

14. It is understood and agreed that 
the United States does not undertake 
to become responsible for any but its 
own acts, nor to convey any right to 
the company not now possessed by 
the United States, nor which the 
Secretary of the Interior has not in 
law the right to convey; and that noth¬ 
ing in this contract shall be construed 
as impairing or affecting or requiring 
the United States to impair or affect 
the rights of any person, corporation, 
or interest not a party to this con¬ 
tract : Provided, however, That nothing 
hei-ein contained shall prevent the 
United States from acquiring on its 
own behalf by adverse user or other¬ 
wise, the right to the use of any of 
the winters mentioned or referred to 
herein for irrigation and other pur¬ 
poses in connection with the Truckee- 
Carson project. 

15. It is also understood and agreed 
that if the law^ of the United States 
should be changed in any respect so 
that the Director of the Reclamation 
Service shall not exercise the powers 
now^ exercised by him, or if said office 
shall be abolished, then all the powers 
and privileges to be exercised by the 
Director of the Reclamation Service 
shall be exercised by the Secretary of 
the Interior or by such officer as may 
be designated by him. 

16. No Member of or Delegate to 
Congress, officer, agent, or employee of 
the United States is or shall be ad- 


TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


141 


This conveyance is made in execu¬ 
tion of an agreement of sale heretofore 
made between the parties of the first 
part and the party of the second part, 

executed in its behalf by--— 

of the United States Reclamation 
Service and approved by the Secretary 
of the Interior. 

In witness whereof the said parties 
have executed these presents the day 
and year first above written. 


mitted to any share or part of this 
contract or to any benefit to arise 
therefrom, and sections 3739, 3740, 
3741, and 3742, Revised Statutes of the 
United States, so far as applicable, 
enter into and are a part of this 
agreement. 

17. This contract is executed on be¬ 
half of the company in pursuance of 
a resolution of its board of directors 
dated 1909, certified copy of which is 
hereto attached. 


In witness whereof the parties to 
this agreement have hereunto set 
their hands, and the company has 
caused its corporate seal to be aflixed 
the day and year first above written. 
Truckee River General Electric 
Company, 

By-. 

And by-. 

Director of the United States Recla¬ 
mation Service, for and on hehalf 
of the United States, Party of the 
Second Part. 

Approved this - day of -, 

1909. 

Secretary of the Interior. 


September 14, 1909. 

District Foresuer, 

San Francisco^ Gal. 

Dear Mr. Olmsted : Your letter of September 4 is received. Mr. 
^Merrill’s report when taken in connection with the report of Mr. 
Maltby, inclosed with your letter of August 6, gives a clear insight 
into the proposed contract. Mr. Wells will return at the end of 
this week and I know will be much interested in both reports. I 
have shown them to Mr. Price and he is much pleased with them. 
Very sincerely, yours, 

A. C. Shaw, 
Acting Law Oificer. 


[Telegram.] 


Sax Francisco, Cal., 

October 1909. 

Forester, 

Washington.^ D. C. 

Is it possible to ascertain definitely whether Smith or Ballinger 
will desire representative from here in Tahoe matter? Complying 
Wells telegram, 30 days’ leave of absence from last Monday was se¬ 
cured in Maltby court proceedings. Further postponement impos¬ 
sible. Could not cover both Tahoe matter and Washington confer¬ 
ence within time at his disposal. 

Hatton. 












142 


TEUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


[Telegram.] 

U. S. Department of Agriculture, 

Forest Service, 

Washington^ D. C.^ October 3, 1909. 

Olmsted, 

San Francisco., Cal. 

Smith wired October 1 from Goldfield, suggesting Dyar as forestry 
representative field examination Tahoe with Ballinger and Smith. 
Forester wired Smith, October 2, that Maltby would represent serv¬ 
ice and could be reached by wire to you. Smith is at St. Francis 
Hotel, San Francisco. Tahoe examination more important than 
Washington conference, even if latter indefinitely postponed.. Please 
use utmost endeavor to reach Smith and have Maltby on ground if 
representative of service is invited. 

PiNCHOT. 


[Telegram.] 

San Francisco, Cal., October 5, 1909. 
Forester, Washingtony D. C.: 

Secretary Ballinger wired Director Smith yesterday. Will be 
pleased to have Maltby join us at Tahoe. Maltby and Merrill leave 
Thursday; arrive Tahoe 8th. Maltby and Merrill can arrive Wash¬ 
ington Monday, 18th, if desired. Necessary Maltby leave there re¬ 
turning evening of 20th. Answer. 

Hatton. 


modified contract. 

1. Changes “holds” to “claims” site. 

2. Does not acknowledge that company has used site and works 
to control waters of Lake Tahoe. 

3. Words in 0 added (unimportant). 

4. Words in - added; unimportant to F. S. A duty to op¬ 

erate perpetually continued. 

5. Change of form only. Agreement formerly guaranteed de¬ 
livery. Change entitles company to divert without charge. 

6. Changed to give company control of new outlet works. United 
States continues to guarantee control of old works so that no in¬ 
creased flow shall go down Truckee Eiver, thereby giving company 
power in flood waters stored. (Same in par. 6.) 

7. Unchanged. Company gets power generated by flood waters. 

8. Changed. F. S. could still only make such regulations as will 
protect national forests; could not prevent monopoly. Company gets 
by change right to overflow anywhere in watershed of Lake Tahoe 
or Truckee River and continues to have right to use national-forest 
land for works and transmission lines. Changed to require company 
to locate works in five years and complete in five years additional. 
Change possibly avoids granting rights for works and transmission 





TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


143 


lines in perpetuity since there is no law under which such right 
could be given. This could be made clearer. 

9. Unchanged; binds United States to pay for repairs, renewals 
of old works, and operation of same perpetually, except that it shall 
pay only one-half of cost of completion of dam. 

1. Violates decision of May 26. 

2. No authority of law for grant in perpetuity. 

3. No charge made. 

4. No value placed upon the power or basis for it. 

5. Can go on bond to satisf}^ vested rights and take this for own 
use. 

6. Contract unassignable. 

7. Binds the United States to maintain perpetually and prevents 
transfer to w^ater user. 


[Telegram.] 

Hornbrook, Cal., October 5, 1909. 

PiNCHOT, 

Forest Service., Washington., D. G.: 

Ballinger has wired me he would be pleased to have Maltby join 
Tahoe investigation. Have notified Maltby, whom I met yesterday. 
Dyar won your case, Goldfield, most ably. 

Smith. 


[Telegram.] 

U. S. Department of Agriculture, 

Forest Service, 

Washington., D. C., October 5, 1909. 

Olmsted, San Francisco., Gal.: 

Postpone indefinitely Maltby’s conference here. Forester will be 
absent dates named. 

Wells. 


October 5, 1909. 

Hon. F. G. Newlands, 

Reno^ Nev. 

My Dear Senator : Upon the first opportunity after my return to 
Washington on September 29 I have taken up the matters referred 
to in our conversation regarding Lake Tahoe contract. I hope that 
your suggestion of a board of engineers or experts representing the 
different interests will bear early fruit. In this connection I wish to 
emphasize some of the points discussed with you and others regarding 
the contract, so that you may have clearly in mind the conditions 
which must be met by any board if it is to be of assistance in advanc¬ 
ing the interest of the United States. 

One of the first questions which is frequently asked is why the canal 
system has been developed before acquiring possession of Lake Tahoe. 
The answer will be plain in recalling the early history. You may 





144 


TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


remember that in the summer of 1902, immediately following the 
passage of the reclamation act, Director Walcott took up personally 
the question of the acquisition of the waters of Lake Tahoe, and at 
that time and subsequently he and all of us had every reasonable 
ground for belief that this matter could be brought to a success:^! 
issue, but that it would be unwise to delay canal construction await¬ 
ing the termination of negotiations. 

The situation on the land to be irrigated w^as such that had we 
delayed canal construction to complete arrangements at Tahoe the 
project could probably not have been built, owing to the increasing 
complications. In otner words, it was vital for success to follow the 
course pursued. In this the Secretary of the Interior and Director 
Walcott were guided undoubtedly by correct business principles and 
instructed the Reclamation Service to proceed along the lines which 
have been followed. 

In nearly all of the large projects it has been necessary to complete 
important units in a certain progression. On some projects it is first 
necessary to' secure the water by storage; on other projects it is of 
first importance to take such water as is available to the lands and 
demonstrate the feasibility of irrigation before the reservoirs are 
completed. 

This was the case in the Truckee-Carson project. There were 
many alternative reservoir locations, any of which might ultimately 
be used, and if stored water could not be had immediately from one 
reservoir it might be had from another. 

The first necessity in the present case was in extinguishing certain 
vested rights in connection with the distributing system. At the 
time work was begun in 1902 this seemed to be the most critical sit¬ 
uation. With as full an understanding of the condition as it was 
practicable to obtain it was decided that this portion of the project 
should be taken up first. The legal complications at Lake Tahoe, 
while understood in part, have mainly developed since that time and 
could only be known after the work was well under way. Any 
criticism of the course pursued disappears when the facts are made 
known. 

The draft of contract for Lake Tahoe storage as it now stands is 
the result of years of study, negotiation, and discussion by a con¬ 
siderable number of men. In the division of labor in the Reclama¬ 
tion Service I have left to Chief Engineer Davis the details of nego¬ 
tiation of this particular matter, and he has given it more thorough 
personal attention than myself. In fact, I may say that owing to 
pressure of innumerable details I have not entered into the actual 
negotiations. 

The difficulties to be met in securing to the United States the use 
of the excess water of Lake Tahoe involve not so much the physical 
obstacles, but those wffiich arise from vested rights and the indefinite 
condition of State and National law regarding the ownership and use 
of w^ater. 

Mr. Davis and his associates have patiently gone through all of 
the facts presented and have from time to time attempted to draw 
up agreements which would be satisfactory, but while any one man 
of the group which had studied the subject could draw up an instru¬ 
ment which suited his ideas it would not be acceptable to his col¬ 
leagues nor to the representatives of the other party. 


TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


145 


In short, every agreement of this kind, like legislative enactments, 
must be a matter of compromise. The practical question is not to 
secure the ideally best contract, but the one having the least objection¬ 
able features upon which both parties could agree. • 

This brings me to a point, namely, that any board or commission 
to consider this matter must not stop simply with discussing what 
would be the ideal agreement from the standpoint of the individual 
members, but what is the form of agreement which can be attained. 
The Government has very little power toward forcing any agreement. 
It may obstruct and delay and possibly injure the sale of stocks and 
bonds by bringing vexatious suits. Ultimately these suits must be 
terminated^ and it seems to be the opinion of those best informed that 
a reliance upon procedure in the courts would at best secure no greater 
advantages to the United States and would lead to almost inter¬ 
minable delays. In other words, we might possibly gain some 
advantage by vexatious suits during their existence, but probably 
not through a successful termination of such suits. 

The draft of contract now under discussion is the latest of a series 
of drafts. Its history is about as follows: 

In the latter part of 1908 it became apparent that the negotiations 
then under w^ay were not producing results, and it was seen that 
there was no alternative other than bringing suit for condemnation. 
Accordingly, the Attorney General was requested by the Secretary of 
the Interior to bring such proceedings under date of January 9, 1909. 

On January 13 the Attorney General sent appropriate instructions 
to the United States attorney. Several communications then passed 
between the Keclamation Service and the United States attorney in 
San Francisco in regard to the suit and requesting that the same be 
expedited as much as possible. It appears, however, that the instruc¬ 
tions of the Attorney Greneral were by mistake sent to the United 
States attorney in Reno, Nev., which caused some delay. 

Representatives of the owners of the land and rights involved in 
the meanwhile took up negotiations with the United States attorney 
with a view to delaying action. 

On February 13 no action had been taken by the United States 
attorney tow^ard instituting a suit, and the Secretary of the Interior 
forwarded to the Attorney General a statement of the history of the 
case for several months past, showing the efforts of the parties in 
interest to secure delay; and as more time had elapsed since the first 
request of the Secretary of the Interior than the 30 days provided 
for in section 7 of the reclamation act, a second request was made 
February 13 for the institution of these condemnation proceedings. 

On February 17 the United States attorney wired the Attorney 
General that the defendants request proceedings be deferred until the 
following Tuesday (Feb. 23) because the commencement of suit will 
be injurious to them, to which the Department of Justice replied 
that the filing of proceedings might be deferred on guaranty that 
there should be no further delay after Tuesday. Complaint was 
finally filed on February 24. 

On March 6, after a conference between the Reclamation Service 
and a representative of the persons interested, a letter was written 
to the Attorney General to the effect that the attitude of these persons 
23914°—H. Doc. 451, 62-2-10 


146 


TEUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


indicated no prospect of an adjustment, and request was made that 
proceedings in eminent domain be pushed as actively as possible. 

Summons was served in the case on March IT. Some further cor¬ 
respondence was carried on concerning this suit, but on March 23 
negotiations were begun at Washington which culminated in the 
draft of contract now under consideration. The suit is still pending, 
and no action has yet been taken by the Keclamation Service to aj^ 
for a dismissal. 

In the meantime there had been a change in the control of the 
land involved, and new parties assumed negotiations. The principal 
persons in this conference were A. P. Davis, chief engineer; Morris 
Bien, supervising engineer, in charge of Land and Legal Division; 
Mr. John C. Kice, of the firm of Gaston, Snow & Toltonstall, of 
Boston; and Mr. Charles F. Wallace, acting on behalf of Stone & 
Webster, a corporation of Boston. 

The various drafts of agreement were discussed in Washingtqji, 
and were forwarded to Boston and San Francisco for discussion by 
the various parties involved. 

On April 22, 1909, Mr. Davis, as Acting Director, in the absence 
of Mr. Newell in the West, submitted to the Secretary of the Interior 
a draft of contract, with recommendation that the same be examined, 
and that the form be approved if found satisfactory. 

At the same time there was transmitted a draft of letter to the 
Secretary of Agriculture reviewing the draft of contract and stating 
I that it is believed that the contract involved full compensation to 
j the United States for any use of the natural resources which is 
j involved. 

In the letter of transmittal of April 22 it is stated that “ it is as¬ 
sumed that the contract will be thoroughly reviewed in the office 
of the Assistant Attorney General.” 

The draft of contract was the subject of frequent conference and 
discussion. In May it was taken to California by Mr. Oscar Lawler, 
Assistant Attorney General, who consulted fully with Mr. Devlin, 
the United States attorney for the northern district of California. 

On May 7 Mr. Charles F. Wallace made certain suggestions and 
recommended that District Attorney Devlin be authorized to settle 
the matter. To these suggestions the Reclamation Service could not 
agree, and by letter to the Secretary on May 10 the Reclamation 
Service protested against the proposed changes in the agreement as 
being disastrous to the Truckee-Carson project. 

On May 10 the Secretary of the Interior wired to Mr. Lawler, 
among other things: 

You are fully authorized to conclude terms. Send for Reclamation Engineer 
Hopson or Henny, Portland, or Means, project engineer, Fallon, New, for con¬ 
sultation, if necessary. 

Mr. Lawler replied that he was detained by sickness, and on May 
12 the Secretary of the Interior wired to Robert T. Devlin: 

You are fully authorized to conclude terms, but important to have advice of 
reclamation engineers in matters of compromise. 

During the latter part of May and early part of June a number 
of conferences were held, and the draft as transmitted on April 22 
was modified in many particulars. 


TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 147 

On May 24, Messrs; Lawler and Devlin discussed the contract 
fully with Mr. E. G. Hopson, supervising engineer, continuing the 
discussion on May 25, 26, and 27. Mr. Hopson furnished Mr. Law¬ 
ler wdth a full written statement dated May 26, reviewing the facts 
as to water supply, the reasons for acquiring control of Tahoe, a 
history of the negotiations, and giving various alternatives, conclud¬ 
ing with the statement that prompt and definite action of some sort 
should be taken. 

On May 29, after conference with Mr. Devlin, Mr. Oscar Lawler 
wrote to the Secretary from San Francisco discussing the situation. 

On June 9 the draft of contract, revised somewhat from the form 
transmitted on April 22 and made so as to meet practically all of 
Mr. Lawler’s suggestions, was again sent to the department by Mr. 
Davis. Certain additional objections were discussed, and on June 
16 there was a personal conference with the Secretary by Mr. F. H. 
Newell, who had returned to the city, and Mr. Davis; Mr. Wallace 
and Mr. Rice representing the other party being also present. After 
these conferences it was stated that the objections hitherto raised 
had been met. The Reclamation Service had shown in its letter 
of June 16 tlpt it was important to enter into the contract, as the 
benefits accruing resulted in large saving to the United States. The 
letter of June 16 was accompanied by memorandum analyzing the 
situation and reviewing some of the objections which have been 
raised. 

At all times it has been recognized that there are objections, but 
that the contract was, all things considered, the best compromise 
wLich could be reached. 

This memorandum of June 16 was prepared at the oral request 
of the Secretary in connection with his discussion of the contract 
with the President. 

Immediately following this discussion of the matter and the filing 
of the memorandum, the Secretary on the evening of the same day 
notified the Truckee River General Electric Co. that— 

Upon presentation of a contract identical with this copy, duly executed, the 
same will receive my approval. 

The contract was duly executed by the Truckee River General 
Electric Co. and in the course of time returned to the Reclamation 
Service. On July 21 it was forwarded to the department, with a 
statement that in accordance with Secretary’s letter to the company 
of June 16 contract had been signed by the Director of the Reclama¬ 
tion Service, and was submitted for approval of the department. 

There being further discussion of the subject, on August 15, 
Director Newell, at the oral request of Secretary Ballinger and in 
consultation with Chief Engineer Davis, prepared a further letter, 
meeting points brought out by an unsigned memorandum. 

In brief, three alternatives have been presented : 

First. Abandon Lake Tahoe and build storage reservoirs else¬ 
where at an immediate expense which, to secure an equivalent 
amount of water, might amount to a million dollars or more. 

Second. Bring condemnation suit and acquire the outlet of Lake 
Tahoe, if this can be successfully prosecuted. We have already 
asked that a suit be brought, and urged that it be pushed, but there 
has been strong objection. 


148 


TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


Third. Arrive at some form of agreement with the various parties 
in interest, and try to secure by the exercise of tact and business 
prudence what might otherwise be obtained in part by long and 
expensive condemnation suits. 

The last is the alternative which most strongly appeals to all of 
us, and which we are attempting, at the same time not abandoning 
the condemnation case. 

The question now is whether the negotiations which have been 
carried on in the past have resulted in the best obtainable agreement. 
Nearly every man who reads the agreement can find fault with it, 
and everyone of us who has had to do with it could have improved 
it individually, but it is not a question as to what each one of us 
individually thinks; it is a question of agreement among diverse 
minds. Although it has been examined by many lawyers represent¬ 
ing the Government, no two have followed the same line of criticism, 
and the contract has been declared acceptable by several representa¬ 
tives of the Government who are presumably qualified to pass upon 
its legal features. Furthermore, any modification of the contract 
must be accepted by the other party. 

Bearing the above facts in mind, a report by a board will have 
practically no value unless it results in suggesting a contract which 
will be acceptable to all the parties in interest, or in agreeing that the 
present contract is after all the best obtainable, certain modifications 
being made to clear up verbiage which as a result of searching criti¬ 
cism may be questioned as obscure or having a doubtful meaning. 

Very truly, yours. 


F. H. Newell, Director. 


October T, 1909. 

Hon. George Otis Smith, 

Director of the United States Geological Survey. 

My Dear Mr. Smith : I am greatly obliged to you for your kind¬ 
ness in arranging that Mr. Maltby should accompany Secretary Ball¬ 
inger and yourself upon the examination of the Truckee General 
Electric contract in the field. I am glad the matter is successfully 
settled, and I thank you also for what you said about Mr. Dyar’s 
work at the American Mining Congress. 

Very truly, yours, Gifford Pinchot, 

Forester. 


October 9, 1909. 

Mr. W. W. Dyar, 

Care of Forest Service.^ Denver., Colo. 

Dear Mr. Dyar: In further reply to your letter of October 2 (filed 
here under “ L, Special, Mining Congress, Cooperation ”) : 

The substitution of Mr. Maltby’s name for yours as the man to 
make the field examination on behalf of the Forest Service was made 
by Mr. Pinchot himself without suggestion from anybody and abso¬ 
lutely without reference to the other matters discussed in your letter. 
I had with considerable difficulty made arrangements for a confer¬ 
ence with Mr. Maltby here and had summoned him in for that pur- 




TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


149 


pose, but Mr. Pinchot, knowing that he had been on the ground 
already and was thoroughly qualified as an electrical expert, the very 
best man in that capacity that we have, postponed the Washington 
conference indefinitely in order that Mr. Maltby might make the 
examination. I suggested that Mr. Merrill might do that work and 
Mr. Maltby fulfill his engagement here, but Mr. Pinchot overruled me. 

You will thus see that this selection was made purely upon tech¬ 
nical grounds, and that there was absolutely nothing personal in it on 
the part of anybody. 

Very cordially, yours, Philip P. Wells, 

Law O-flicer, 


Salt Lake City, Utah, 

October 11^ 1909. 

The Fores'ler, Washington. D. C.: 

At Tahoe conference 8th it was decided as result of the disclosures 
we made concerning Truckee General Electric agreement to cancel 
it and instructions given to draft new agreement. Secretary Bal¬ 
linger informed me he would report to President, who has talien 
special interest in matter. I expect arrive Auditorium Annex, Chi¬ 
cago, Thursday. 

A. W. Maltby. 


United States Department of Agriculture, 

Forest Service, 
Washington., October ii, 1909. 


Mr. Gifford Pinchot, 

Milford., Pa. 

Dear Gifford : Maltby wires from Salt Lake City as follows: 


At Tahoe conference, 8th, it was decided as result of the disclosures we made 
concerning Truckee General Electric agreement to cancel it, and instructions 
given to draft new agreement. Secretary Ballinger informed me he would 
report to President, who has taken special interest in matter. I expect arrive 
Auditorium Annex, Chicago, Thursday. 

He is evidently coming east for the power conference here, and I 
think it would be very desirable for you to see him some time during 
his stay if possible. 

I leave Tuesday night for Boston and shall return here on 
Thursday. 

Verry cordially, yours, Philip P. Wells, 

Law Officer. 


United States Department of Agriculture, 

Forest Service, District 5, 

San Francisco Cal.., October H., 1909. 

The Forester, Washington., D. G. ' 

Dear Sir: On October 9 Mr. Maltby and I met Secretary Bal¬ 
linger and his party at Tahoe Tavern to discuss the terms of the 
proposed agreement between the Truckee River General Electric Co. 
and the Reclamation Service. The Reclamation Service was repre- 





150 TBUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 

sefif^d by Supervision Engineer Hobson; Mr. Hill, engineer of the 
Yuma project; Mr. Means, engineer, and Mr. Hayes, assistant en¬ 
gineer of the Truckee-Carson project; and Mr. Chandler, water-law 
expert. 

The entire contract was thoroughly discussed, and it is safe to 
sa}^ that if such action regarding it be taken as the Secretary there 
directed, nothing beyond paragraph 4 will remain in its present 
form and practically the entire contract will be rewritten. Every 
point made against the contract by Mr. Maltby in his letter to the 
Forester (D, policy, power, Truckee River General Electric Co., 
Reclamation Service agreement) of August 4, 1909, was sustained. 
The Secretary directed Mr. Chandler to keep notes of all objections 
and to have them corrected in the new contract. 

Mr. Hobson, who appears to have been chiefly responsible for the 
contract from the engineering side, at first opposed any changes in 
the contract on the ground that “ it is poor business ” to revise a 
contract after it has reached the point of being signed by both parties. 
Later, however, he admitted that the contract as written failed to 
include the main features agreed upon by the engineers of the com¬ 
pany and of the Reclamation Service, and that the contract, if car¬ 
ried out strictly as written, would leave the Truckee-Carson project, 
as far as any legal rights were concerned, in a worse situation than 
at present. 

The following special matters were discussed: 

Company''s title. —Mr. Chandler refused to admit any doubt as to 
the perfect security and validity of the company’s title to the outlet 
gates and to the water up to the capacity of their plant, stating that 
they had acquired an incontestable title by right of “ user,” and that 
the failure to renew their original franchise had no bearing on their 
present title. 

Regulation of the second outlet. —The Reclamation Service engi¬ 
neers maintained that the word “ regulation ” as found in paragraph 
5, line 19, meant “ operation and control.” The Secretary, however, 
disagreed, saying that use of different terms must of necessity require 
them to be interpreted as different acts. 

Depth of second diversion. —Mr. Maltby suggested that a definite 
depth for the second diversion tunnel be inserted in the contract, and 
that it be made sufficiently low to allow of drawing down the lake be¬ 
low the present minimum level, if such action should be necessary to 
protect the irrigated lands in a season of excessive drought. He 
claimed that the property owners along the lake would not offer 
objections to such occasional action were it necessary to protect the 
irrigators from serious damage. Objections to this suggestion were 
made on the ground that the insertion of such a clause would arouse 
the fears of the littoral owners, and that work would probably be 
stopped by injunction. Mr. Hill suggested that this objection could 
be overcome by requiring the construction of a weir around the inlet 
of the tunnel which would limit the low-water level, and that in case 
of such necessity, as Mr. Maltby Suggested, the Aveir could be broken 
through and afterwards reconstructed. The amended suggestion was 
approved. 

Four hundred and seventy-five acre-feet limitation. —It was urged 
by Mr. Hill that this requirement be carefully reviewed by the engi¬ 
neers of both parties, and that the minimum limit be raised, if so de- 


TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


151 


Sired by the company, in order to allow them to use the power plant 
irom the second diversion as a “peak load” plant capable of caring 
for monthly or seasonal as well as daily “ peaks.” He claimed that 
it made very little ditFerence to the Reclamation Service how the water 
was drawn from the second diversion, provided none should be 
allowed to waste from Lake Washoe. This matter will probably be 
reviewed and the quantity changed. No objection would lie against 
such a change if sufficient storage capacity were provided in Lake 
Washoe Reservoir so that all the water passing through the second 
diversion could be made available for use during the irrigation 
season. 

Lake Washoe Reservoir .—Mr. Hobson stated on inquiry that it had 
been definitely agreed (verbally) that the water from the second 
diversion was to be re-stored in Lake Washoe, that this reservoir was 
to be constructed with a capacity of 168,000 acre-feet, that the gates 
at the outlet were to be operated and controlled by the Reclamation 
Service for irrigation purposes only, and that it was the intention to 
draw 1,500 second-feet from this reservoir during the irrigation sea¬ 
son. When asked why these matters were omitted from the contract, 
he replied that it was at the suggestion of the company, who feared 
that if the location of their proposed reservoirs were made public they 
would be obliged to pay a higher price for the lands which they would 
1 equire. 

Mr. Maltby urged that definite maps and plans be required of the 
reservoirs, tunnel, canals, power-house locations, etc., for the utiliza¬ 
tion of the water from the second diversion and that such maps and 
plans be made a part of the contract. While this suggestion seemed 
favorably received it is uncertain whether the action will be taken. 

It seems to be the intention of the company, as stated by Mr. Means, 
to construct a power plant at the head of the Steamboat Valley to 
utilize the water from Lake Washoe Reservoir. According to the 
verbal agreement this plant could be operated during the irrigation 
season only, since that would be, in general, the only period during 
which water would be drawn from this reservoir, if the gates were 
operated and controlled by the Reclamation Service. 

It is believed that the Secretary will require that part of the con¬ 
tract which relates to the utilization and storage of the water from the 
second diversion to be drawn in definite terms so as to include all the 
features verbally agreed to by the parties and as enumerated above. 

Other reservoir sites .—It was brought out in the discussion of this 
subject that under the verbal agreement the company “ must,” not 
“ might,” construct reservoirs on the watershed of the Little Truckee 
River for the purpose of satisfying vested interests on the Truckee 
River above Clarks Station, Nev. Mr. Means stated that the com¬ 
pany’s engineers are already making surveys of such sites. These 
reservoirs, not being “ for the use and benefit of the Truckee-Carson 
project,” will be operated and controlled by the company in such man¬ 
ner as they desire. 

Damages for discharge of 2.^00 second-feet .—It was admitted with¬ 
out question that the provisions in paragraph 8, stating that the 
United States should not be liable for damages caused by a “ dis¬ 
charge of 2,500 cubic feet of water per second from Lake Tahoe into 
Truckee River ” was incorrectly stated and that it should read and 


152 


TEtrCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


was intended to read “ up to and including 2,500 cubic feet of water 
per second.” 

National-forest lands involved. —lYhile no mention was made of 
Forest Service interests or national-forest lands as such, Mr. Means 
said that of the entire area that could be utilized as reservoir sites 
less than 3 per cent was public land, and that he believed the advan¬ 
tages which the Keclamation Service would receive under an agree¬ 
ment so drawn as to contain all the features verbally agreed upon 
would warrant a waiver of rights by the United States in the small 
area of public lands involved. 

In my report “ On the possible power developments of the water¬ 
shed of the Truckee River above Clarks Station, Nev.,” Table No. 13, 
page 133, shows that of a total area of 11,167 acres which might be 
flooded by the construction of all the reservoirs reported upon, but 
224 acres, or 2 per cent, would be national-forest land. Table No. 14, 
page 135, shows that of a total estimated length of conduits of 63.75 
miles but 4.25 miles would be on national-forest land, and of a total 
estimated length of transmission lines of 96.75 miles but 4.50 miles 
would be on national-forest land. Furthermore, it is entirely prob¬ 
able that if the power developments as outlined in the above-named 
report were made, conduits and transmission lines, particularly the 
latter, could be so located as to avoid all national-forest land. 

United States alone to exercise control. —In the discussion of para¬ 
graph 12, particularly of the words “ no person, firm, or corporation, 
other than the United States, and no assign of the United States, 
whether by statute or otherwise, shall have any right to regulate or 
control the outlet work of the company under this agreement,” it 
was stated that the company had insisted upon this stipulation for 
fear that, upon the completion of the Truckee-Carson project, the 
control of the works might be turned over, together with the land to 
a “ water-users’association,” or similar organization representing only 
irrigation interests, and that the rights of the company might be 
jeopardized by such control. The Secretary stated that the clause as 
drawn is illegal in that it would bind the action of future Congresses, 
and that the clause would need to be rewritten so as to provide that 
control and operation should be exercised by such agent or agents as 
Congress might direct. 

Advantages of the contract to Truckee-Carson project. —It was 
stated by the Reclamation Service engineers that the agreement, if 
drawn as intended, would be of great advantage to the Truckee- 
Carson project. The waters drawn from Lake Tahoe through the 
second diversion would be stored in the Lake Washoe Reservoir up 
to a capacity of 168,000 acre-feet, all of which would be available, 
under their operation and control of the Lake Washoe outlet works, 
for irrigation uses during the irrigation season. Any discharge from 
Washoe during the nonirrigation season Avould be at the option of 
the Reclamation Service and would be exercised only in seasons of 
high run-off. Even this water could be stored again in the Lower 
Carson Reservoir, which it is proposed to construct. 

Of the water stored on the Little Truckee watershed, 25 per cent 
would be available for use during the irrigation season. The remain¬ 
ing 75 per cent, discharged after the close of the irrigation season 
and during the period of low flow in the streams, could be taken up 


TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


153 


by the Truckee-Carson canal at Clarks Station and conducted thence 
to the above-named Lower Carson Reservoir, from which it could be 
drawn for use during the following season. Mr. Means stated that, 
in his opinion, the storage of water by the company on the Little 
Truckee watershed would be to the distinct advantage of the Reclama¬ 
tion project for the reasons stated above, and that it would be far 
more costly for the Reclamation Service to construct the several 
reservoirs on the Little Truckee than to construct a reservoir of 
equivalent capacity on the Lower Carson. 

In my report of September 20 it is stated, on page 136: 

A grant to the company of the right to construct reservoirs on the watersheds 
of Donner and Prosser Creeks and of the Little Truckee River would deprive 
the Truckee-Carson project forever of 75 per cent of the water that might 
be made available were these sites developed by the Reclamation Service for 
the sole use and benefit of the reclamation project, unless the Reclamation 
Service shall construct, lower down on the streams, hold-over storage reser¬ 
voirs of an equivalent capacity. 


It appears to be the intention to construct such a reservoir on the 
Lower Carson River and hence this objection would be removed. 

If the contract be redrawn to include in express terms all the fea¬ 
tures that the Reclamation Service engineers stated were clearly 
understood by the parties to the contract, little or no specific objec¬ 
tion could be made to the terms of the contract. The Truckee- 


Carson project would undoubtedly receive a largely increased quan¬ 
tity of water for irrigation purposes, of a value, as estimated by Mr. 
Means, of $700,000. On the other hand, the company will secure very 
valuable concessions, particularly the right to take water through 
the second diversion. 

The question of the advisability of granting a right in perpetuity 
the Reclamation Service men seemed disinclined to discuss, and the 
matter was not pressed. It is their evident purpose to put the con¬ 
tract through. ’Whether the representatives of the company will 
again be able to keep the greater part of the agreement merely verbal 
is a matter of conjecture only. It is improbable, however, that a 
contract similar to the present one will be allowed to pass. The 
attitude of the Secretary seemed to be distinctly in favor of the 
proposed amendments. 

It is difficult to understand how the defects in the cgntract could 
have escaped the notice of the men who are chiefly responsible for it. 
The Reclamation Service representatives insisted before the confer¬ 
ence that the contract was “ all right,” but admitted afterward that 
under its terms they would have lost all the rights they now possess 
and gained nothing in return. Even Mr. Chandler declared he had 
read the contract over several times on the preceding day and failed 
to see any defects in it. The only explanation that I can personally 
make is that the engineers of the Reclamation Service had so firmly 
fixed in their minds, from their many discussions of the subject with 
the company’s engineers, the features of the arrangements they were 
expecting to make and trusted so much to the gentlemen’s agree¬ 
ment ” of the other side that they failed to see how little of this agree¬ 
ment was written into the contract. It is more difficult yet to 
explain or to understand the attitude of the legal department. 

Very truly, yours, 

O. C. Merrill, Engineer, 


154 


TEUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


October 22, 1909. 

District Forester, 

San Francisco^ Cal, 

Dear Mr. Olmsted : Mr. Merrill’s report of October 14 (D, Tahoe, 
uses, Truckee River General Electric Co., Reclamation Service 
agreement), together with his report on the possible water-power 
development of the Avatershed of the Truckee River above Clarks 
Station, Nev., dated September 20, and the topographic map and 
status map accompanying the last-named report, are received. 

With reference to the first-named report: Mr. Maltb}^ Avas in Wash¬ 
ington yesterday and spent the greater part of the day Avith me in 
conference Avith the Director and chief laAV officer of the Reclamation 
Service discussing the defects of the contract as now drawn. The 
objections to the contract stated by Mr. Maltby and Mr. Merrill are 
undoubtedly sound. The Forester has expressed to Mr. Maltby his 
appreciation of his efficient service to the public in this matter, and 
desires that you convey a similar expression to Mr. Merrill. 

In addition to the points made by Mr. Maltby and Mr. Merrill, the 
contracts seem open to other grave objections, namely: 

1. Though the status map above referred to shoAvs that there are 
no lands of the United States on the line of the proposed tunnel 
for the second diversion, it seems to show such lands within the 
proposed Washoe Reservoir and on the line of the proposed power 
canal beloAv that reservoir. Moreover, the contract does not restrict 
the company to the above-described location of the second diversion, 
and therefore might be used by the company as a permit for the 
use of Government lands in another location.* The position of the 
Forester is that poAver concessions on any national forest lands are 
by law prohibited to be in perpetuity, and as a matter of policy must 
be for a restricted term upon conditions of payment to the Gov¬ 
ernment and stipulations for the prevention of the evils of poAver 
monopoly. 

2. As chairman of the National Conservation Commission, the 
Forester has a legitimate interest in the policy as to power con¬ 
cessions pursued by the Government with respect to lands of the 
United States not Avithin national forests, and believes them to be 
subject to the same statutory prohibition of perpetual grants. Though 
the Tawney amendment to the sundry civil bill passed at the last 
session of Congress forbade the expenditure of any appropriation 
made by Congress for the payment of the expenses of any commis¬ 
sion not authorized by Congress, and said that service by any public 
officer upon or in connection with such commission Avas prohibited, 
nevertheless the President has assured the commission that it is still 
in existence, and that he expected to secure a special appropriation 
for its use. Mr. Pinchot has therefore continued to consult the 
President upon matters affecting the conservation movement outside 
the national forests. 

Very sincerely, yours, Philip P. Wells, 

Law Officer, 


[Memorandum for O. G.] 

October 22, 1909. 

Please deposit in the vault the tAvo annexed maps in a package 
labeled “ Topographic and status maps accompanying report on the 



TRUCKEE-CARSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


155 


possible water-power development of the watershed of the Truckee 
River above Clarks Station, dated September 20, 1909, by O. C. 

iV'rAT»T»in ” 


Department of the Interior, 

United States Keclamation Service, 

Washington^ D. C.^ October 26^ 1909. 

Mr. Gifford Pinchot, 

Forester.^ United States Forest Service.^ 

Washington., D. C. 

My Dear Mr. Pinchot: Referring to our conversation with Mr. 
Maltby regarding the Lake Tahoe, Nev., contract, I hope that you 
will send me a copy of his report, so that I may study the situation 
carefully. 

Very truly, yours^ F. H. Newell, 

Director. 


October 30, 1909. 

Mr. A. W. Maltby, 

Concord.^ Cal. 

Dear Mr. Maltby : Mr. Wells has left the city to meet Mr. Pinchot 
at New Orleans. Director Newell, of the United States Reclamation 
Service, by letter of October 25, writes the Forester as follows: 

Referring to our conversation with Mr. Maltby regarding the Lake Tahoe, 
Nev., contract, I hope that yon will send me a copy of his report, so that I 
may study the situation carefully. 

Mr. Wells requested me to inform you that Mr. Newell would be 
sent a copy of your report unless you object to its being sent. Please 
inform the Forester by wire if you have no objection. I am tele¬ 
graphing you to this effect to-day, in case you have already reached 
your home from your trip east. 

Very sincerely, yours, W. J. Mangan, 

Acting Law Officer. 


[Telegram.] 

Washington, D. C., October 30., 1909. 

Mr. A. W. Maltby, 

Concord, Cal.: 

Director Newell makes formal request for your report. Will send 
copy have on file unless you object. 

Wells. 


[Telegram.] 


New Orleans, La., November 2, 1909. 


Price, 

Forestry, Washington, D. C.: 

Please rush Plummer on special work he is doing for me. 

Wells. 






156 


TRUCKEE-CAPtSON-LAKE TAHOE PROJECT. 


November 16, 1909. 


Mr. F. H. Newell, 

Director United States Reclamation Service^ 

Washington^ D, G. 

My Dear Mr. Newell: Your letter of October 25 was received in 
my absence from the city. Mr. Wells telegraphed to Mr. Maltby, in¬ 
forming him that you had requested a copy of his report and asking 
him if he had any objection to our sending it. It is probable that 
the telegram has not been called to Mr. Maltby’s attention, since he 
has not acknowledged receipt of it. I have therefore had a copy 
of the report made for you and inclose it with this letter. 

Very sincerely, yours, 

Gifford Pinchot, Forester. 


Appendix I. —Application of the Donner Lumber & Boom Co. 

FOR THE Power to Collect Tolls on the Truckee River. 

It appearing to the board from the affidavits of E. J. Brickell, 
Warren Richardson, Charles Dunn, and Robert D. Hart and filed 
herein that said company has complied with the provisions of an act 
of the Legislature of the State of California entitled “An act to 
authorize the Donner Lumber Co., their agents and assigns, to im¬ 
prove the channel of the Truckee River from its source to the town 
of Truckee and erect flood gates therein and collect tolls,” approved 
April 4, 1870, have expended the full sum of $25,000 as provided in 
said act and have fully complied with the conditions of said act, it 
is therefore ordered that said Donner Lumber & Boom Co., having 
fully complied with the provisions of said act and having expended 
the sum therein specified, be, and it is hereby, authorized to collect 
tolls as provided in said act. Saturday, November 6, 1875. 

V. V. Mann, Chairman. 
Jas. Laird, 

A. J. Soule, 

S. B. Harrison, 

Supervisors. 

S. F. Burke, Clerk. 



f 


INDEX. 


Page. 

Letter of transmittal. 3 

Introduction. 6-7 

Instructions. 6 

Nature of the investigations. 6 

Purpose of the investigations. 6 

Data available and utilized. 6 

Location of area affected. 7 

Origin of the rights of the Truckee River General Electric Co. 7-9 

The act of 1870. 7 

Exercise of right by prescription. 9-10 

Negotiations with United States Reclamation Service. 10 

Consolidation by the Hammon interests. 10-11 

Present power developments.'. 11-13 

Flonston Pulp & Paper Co., at Floriston. 11 

Truckee River General Electric Co., at Farad. 11-12 

Truckee River General Electric Co., at Fleisch. 12 

Washoe Power & Development Co., at Mogul. 12 

Reno Power, Light & Water Co., at Reno. 12 

Other power developments on the Truckee River. 12 

Description of drainage basin. 13 

Physical characteristics. 13 

Ownership. 13 

Area and elevations. 13 

Precipitation. 13-15 

Table No. 1.—Area of certain watersheds. 14 

Table No. 2.—Annual rainfall at 10 stations. 14 

Table No. 3.—Increase in precipitation with elevation. 15 

Table No. 4.—Estimated precipitation on certain watersheds. 15 

Diagram No. 1.—Increase in precipitation with elevation. 16 

Run-off and stream flow. 15-20 

Data available and utilized. 15-16 

Run-off taldes. 16-20 

Diagram No. 2.—Run-off relations of certain watersheds. 18 

Table No. 5.—Run-off relations of certain watersheds. 19 

Table No. 6 .—Discharges at Tahoe, acre-feet. 20 

Table No. 7.—Discharges at Tahoe, cubic feet per second. 20 

Reservoirs and storage.20-46 

Lakes.... 20-21 

Reservoirs. 21 

Webber Lake. 21-24 

Location. 21 

Status of land. 21 

Reclamation withdrawals. 22 

Maps and diagrams. 22 

Dam. 22 

Diagram No. 3.—Contour map of Webber Lake Reservoir. 22 

Diagram No. 4.—Capacity curve, Webber Lake Reservoir. 23 

Area and storage capacity. 23 

Diagram No. 5.—Profile of dam site, Webber Lake Reservoir. 24 

Little Truckee Reservoir No. 1. 24-27 

Location. 24-25 

Status of land. 25-26 

Reclamation withdrawals. 26 

Maps and diagrams. 27 

Dam. 27 

Area and storage capacity. 27 

Diagram No. 6 .—Contour map. Little Truckee Reservoir No. 1. 24 

Diagram No. 7.—Capacity curve, Little Truckee Reservoir No. 1. 25 

Diagram No. 8 .—Contours of dam site, Little Truckee Reservoir No. 1. 25 

157 





























































158 


INDEX. 


Reservoirs and storage—Continued. Page. 

Henness Pass reservoir site. 27-28 

Location. 27 

Status of land. 27 

Reclamation withdrawals. 27 

Maps and diagrams. 27 

Dam. 27 

Area and storage capacity. 27-28 

Diagram No. 9—Outline map, Henness Pass reservoir site. 26 

Lake Independence reservoir site. 28-29 

Location. 28 

Status of land. 28 

Reclamation withdrawals. 28 

Maps and diagrams. 28 

Dam. 28 

Area and storage capacity. 28-29 

Diagram No. 10.—Contour map, Lake Independence reservoir site ... 29 
Diagram No. 11.—Profile of dam site. Lake Independence Reservoir . 30 

Diagram No. 12 .—Capacity curve. Lake Independence Reservoir- 30 

Twin Valley reservoir site. 30-33 

Location. 30 

Status of land. 30-31 

Reclamation withdrawals. 31 

Maps and diagrams. 32 

Dam.•. 32-33 

Diagram No. 13.—Contour map. Twin Valley reservoir site. 31 

Diagram No. 14.—Profile of dam site. Twin Valley reservoir site. 31 

Diagram No. 15.—Capacity curve. Twin Valley reservoir site. 32 

Area and storage capacity. 33 

Euers Valley reservoir site. 33 

Location. 33 

Status of land. 33 

Reclamation withdrawals. 33 

Maps and diagrams. 33 

Dam. 33 

Storage capacity..... 33 

Donner Lake reservoir site. 33-36 

Location. 33 

Status of land. 33 

Reclamation withdrawals. 34 

Maps and diagrams. 34 

Dam. 34-35 

Diagram No. 16.—Contour map, Donner Lake Reservoir. 34 

Diagram No. 17.—Profile of dam site, Donner Lake Reservoir. 35 

Diagram No. 18.—Capacity curve, Donner Lake Reservoir. 35 

Area and storage capacity. 36 

Squaw Valley reservoir site. 36-37 

Location. 36-37 

Status of land. 37 

Reclamation withdrawals. 37 

Maps and diagrams. 37 

Area and storage capacity. 37 

Diagram No. 19.—Outline map. Squaw Valley Reservoir. 36 

Diagram No. 20.—Contour map, dam site. Squaw Valley Reservoir... 36 

Dog Valley reservoir site. 37-39 

Location. 37 

Status of land. 37 

Reclamation withdrawals. 37 

Maps and diagrams. 37-38 

Dam. 33 

Diagram No. 21 —Contour map, Dog Valley reservoir site. 38 

Diagram No. 22 —Profile of dam site, Dog Valley reservoir site. 39 

Diagram No. 23—Capacity curve, Dog Valley reservoir site. 39 

Area and storage capacity. 33 





























































INDEX. 


159 


lieservoirs and storage—Continued. 

Lake Tahoe reservoir site.. 

Location. 

Status of land. 

Reclamation withdrawals.. 

Maps and diagrams.f. 

Diagram No. 24—Outline map of Lake Tahoe. 

Diagram No. 25—Contour map of dam site. 

Diagram No. 26—Capacity curve, Lake Tahoe. 

Old dam.. 

Fluctuations in lake level. 

New dam. 

Storage capacity. 

Lake Washoe storage reservoir site. 

Location.. 

Status of land.. 

Reclamation withdrawals. 

Maps and diagrams.. 

Dam.. 

Area and storage capacity.. 

Diagram No. 27—Contour map, Lake Washoe reservoir site. . 
Diagram No. 28—Capacity curve. Lake Washoe reservoir site 

Little Valley reservoir site.. 

Location.. 

Status of land.. 

Reclamation withdrawals. 

Maps and diagrams. 

Area and storage capacity. 

Summary. 

Possible water-power developments. 

Project No. 1—^Webber Creek power plant.. 

Power house. 

Conduits. 

Transmission line...-. 

Water and head available. 

Power developed. 

Project No. 2—Lake Independence power plant. 

Power house. 

Conduit. 

Transmission line.... 

Water and head available. 

Power developed. 

Project No. 3—Twin Valley power plant. 

Power house. 

Conduit. 

Transmission line.... 

Water and head available. 

Power developed. 

Project No. 4—Prosser Creek power plant. 

Power house. 

Conduit. 

Transmission line. 

Water and head available. 

Power developed. 

Project No. 5—Truckee Power Plant. 

Powerhouse. 

Conduit..... 

Transmission line.... 

Water and head available. 

Power developed. 

Project No. 6—Boca power plant. 

Power house. 

Conduit..... 

Transmission line.... 

Water and head available. 

Power developed. 


Page. 

39-43 

39 

39- 40 

40- 41 
41 

40 

41 

41 

41- 42 

42 

42 

42- 43 

43- 46 

43 

43- 44 

44 

44- 45 

45 

46 

44 

45 

46 
46 
46 
46 
46 
46 

46 
47-53 
47-48 

47 

47 

47- 48 

48 
48 
48 
48 
48 
48 
*48 
48 

48- 49 
48 

48 

48- 49 

49 
49 
49 
49 
49 
49 
49 
49 

49- 50 
49 

49 

50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 
50 



































































160 


INDEX. 


Possible water-power developments—Continued. Page. 

Project No. 7—Floriston power plant. 50-51 

Power house. 50 

Conduit. 50-51 

Transmission line. 51 

Water and head available.:. 51 

Power developed. 51 

Project No. 8—Lake Washoe power plant. 51-52 

Power house. 51 

Conduit. 51 

Transmission line. 51 

Water and head available. 51 

Power developed. 51-52 

Project No. 9—Steamboat Valley power plant. 52 

Power house. 52 

Conduit. 52 

Transmission line. 52 

Water and head available. 52 

Power developed. 52 

Project No. 10—Clarks Station power plant. 52 

Power house. 52 

Conduit. 52 

Transmission line. 52 

Water and head available. 52 

Power developed. 52 

Summary. 52-53 

Water power v. irrigation. 53-56 

Table No. 8—Water available for irrigation from reservoirs. 53 

Table No. 9—Water available for irrigation from Tahoe. 54 

Table No. 10—Mean monthly run-off at Vista, Nev. 55 

Table No. 11—Mean monthly run-off utilizable for irrigation.. 55 

Opportunity for and possibility of monopoly. 56 

General summary. 57-60 

Location of area involved. 57 

Origin of the right of the Truckee River General Electric Co. and negotia¬ 
tions with the Reclamation Service.57-58 

Present power developments. 58 

Table No. 12, summary of present developments. 58 

Precipitation, run-off, and stream flow. 58 

Reservoir sites. 59 

Table No. 13, summary of data of reservoir sites. 58 

Possible power developments. 59 

Table No. 14, summary of data of power development. 59 

Effect on irrigation project. 59-60 

Intercorporate relations. 60 

Probability of monopoly. 60 

Relation to Forest Service policies. 60 

Correspondence. 60-156 


In folder: 

Table No. 15.—Run-off data. 

Diagram No. 29.—Lake Tahoe storage diagram. 
Diagram No. 30.—Massed run-off curves. 

Diagram No. 31.—Certain run-off and storage diagrams. 
Accompanying report: 

Contour map of Lake Tahoe and vicinity. 

General status map of Lake Tahoe and vicinity. 


l ' 


o 
















































Table No lo.—Meamred and estimated run-off of certain catchment areas on the watershed of the Trochee River, California and Nevada. 


Year and month. 


1900. 


I M&rch. 

I Jane. 

I inly. 

I iuirust.... 
I September. 
■ October.... 
I}ioveml>or. 
I December.. 


Section I. Truckee River between Tahoe and State line 
(drainage area, 430 square miles). 


Mean 

discharge 

(second- 

feet). 


Y'ear... 

1001. 

liiniiary. 

I February.... 

Ilbrch. 

liprii. 

1“?. 

iJine. 

Ihly. 

Ilo^ist. 

litptomber... 

|<i^ber. 

Iloveinber... 
iDeceinber.... 

Year... 

lOO*-*. 

|iiQu:iry. 

Ilebnuiry.... 
Il^h. 

k':;::::;;: 

Ike. 

)iy. 

hkum . 

Iktember... 

Pttober. 

firember... 
Ikfinber.... 

Year... 

1903. 

lUary. 

_ l)ruary.... 
■kch.... 

k-. 

. 

^ml)er... 

tob<*r.. 

|kember... 
|ketuber.... 


Y'l'ar. 

1P<. 




at. 

ober.. 


'December.,. 

Year.. 

I'OS. 

January. 

February... 

il or^'h. 

April. 

May. 

June. 

^uly.... 

August....', 

^pternber... 

Detober 

^^ovember... 

De*embw.,. 


Year. 


707 

902 

1.528 

057 

245 

104 

171 

322 

345 

320 


212 
1,001 
1,250 
1,407 
2.478 
1,505 
401 
07 
140 
188 
222 , 
• 334 i 


Total 

discharge 

(acre-feet). 


40.000 

53.000 

94.000 

39.100 

15.100 

10.100 
10.200 
10,800 
20,600 
20,100 


331.600 


13.000 
55, COO 
70,000 
88,000 
152.500 

93.200 
28.300 

4.100 

8,700 

11,600 

13.200 
20.000 


Second-feet 
per square 
mile. 


1.83 

2.07 

3.50 

1.51 
.56 
.38 
.39 
.74 
.79 
.74 


.49 

2.29 

2.87 

3.36 

5.08 

3.59 

1.00 

.15 

.34 

.43 

.51 

.77 


783 I 565.700 • 


1.80 


197 

433 

350 

1.G08 

1,830 

1,253 

279 

100 

132 

120 

70 

1.50 


547 


250 

3C>0 

490 

\ An 
1,110 
308 
140 
91 
123 
000 
143 


12,100 
24,100 
21,500 
95,700 
112,500 
74,000 
18,300 
C, 100 
7,400 
7,700 
4,200 
9,()00 


.45 

.99 

.80 

3.09 

4.20 

2.87 

.03 

.23 

.30 

.29 

.10 

.36 


Depth on 
watershed 
(inches). 


2.11 

2.20 

4.04 

1.68 

.65 

.43 

.44 

.85 

.88 


Accumu¬ 

lated 

run-off 

(acre-feet). 


49,000 

102,000 

196,600 

235,700 

250.800 

200.900 
271,100 

290.900 
311,400 
331,500 


Section II. Little Truckee River at Tine Station gauging 
station (drainage area, 16('i square miles). 


.56 
2.39 
3.31 
3.78 
6.56 
4.01 
1.22 
.18 
.37 
.50 
.57 
.88 


24.33 


.52 

1.04 

.93 

4.12 

4.84 

3.21 

.79 

.20 

.34 

.33 

.18 

.41 


344,500 

400.100 
477,000 
505,000 
717,600 
810,700 
839,000 

843.100 
$51,800 
803,400 
870.000 
897,200 


548 


:194,300 

20,000 

30,500 

61,300 

101,200 

<K),200 

19,000 

9,000 

5,400 

7.(500 

35,700 

8.800 


381.500 


104 

1,240 

2,008 

2,287 

2,907 

1,852 

624 

230 

142 

317 

182 

220 


1,018 


345 

321 

775 

1,093 

1,280 

903 

245 

112 

92 

97 

100 

95 


0,400 

71.400 

127.100 

130.100 
178,900 
110,200 

38.400 
14,200 

8,400 

22,000 

10,800 

13,500 


737,400 


21,200 

17.800 
47,700 
0.5,100 

78.800 

53.800 
15,100 

0,900 

5,500 

0,000 

0,000 

5,800 


1.26 


.59 
.83 
1.14 
2.75 
3.77 
2.54 
.71 
.33 
.21 
.28 
1.38 
.33 


1.26 


.08 
.86 
1.31 
2.94 
4.35 
2.59 
.82 
.39 
.23 
.33 
1.54 
.38 


909.300 

933,400 

954,900 

1,050,000 

1.103.100 

1.237.700 
1,256,000 

1.202.100 
1,270,000 

1.277.700 
1,281,900 
1,291,500 


Mean 

dischar^ 

(second- 

feet). 


303 

343 

582 

250 

93 

62 

05 

123 
131 

124 


Total 

discharge 

(acre-feet). 


18.650 
20,400 
35,720 

14.880 
8,740 
3,840 

3.880 
7,540 
7,860 

7.650 


.1 126,100 


75 

165 

133 

612 

096 

476 

113 

38 

50 

48 

27 

59 


Second-feet 
per square 
raife. 


Depth on 
watershed 
(inches). 


1.83 

2.07 

3.50 

1.51 
.56 
.38 
.39 ! 
.74 
.79 , 
.74 


2.11 
2.26 
4.04 
1.68 
.65 
.43 
.44 
.85 
.88 
.86 


4,950 
21,150 
29,250 
33,900 
58,000 
35.400 
10.800 
1.560 
3,310 
4,410 
5.020 
7,840 


215,590 


4.600 
9,160 
8,180 

36.800 

42.800 
28,400 

0,900 

2,320 

3,010 

2,930 

1.600 
3,050 


150,410 


16.42 


.24 
2.84 
4.74 

5.24 
0.60 

4.25 
1.43 

.53 

.33 

.82 

.42 

.50 


455 329,700 


1900. I 

_anuarv. I 

.' 

Vpril.... 
tfay. 

July.. 

August....”””!.. 

^ptember. 

ictalvr. 

December.i 


288 
250 
687 
2,362 
3,107 
2,230 
1,075 
10 
84 
97 
25 
15 


Year., 


831 


17,700 

13,900 

42,300 

140.80b 

191.000 

133,200 

06,200 

600 


2.34 


.79 

.74 

1.78 

2.51 

2.94 

2.07 

.57 

.26 

.21 

.22 

.23 

.22 


3.07 
5.47 
5.85 
7.69 
4.74 
1.05 
.01 
.30 
.95 
.40 
.58 


1.09 


.66 
,57 
1.58 
5.42 

7.12 

5.12 
2.47 

.02 


31.71 


.91 

,77 

2.05 

2.80 

3.39 

2.32 

.05 

.30 

.24 

.20 

.26 

.25 


1.307.300 

1.327.300 
1.357,800 
1,426,100 

1.527.300 
1,537,508 

1.606.500 

1.615.500 
1,620,900 
1,028.500 
1,604,200 
1.073,000 


1,079,400 

1,750,800 

1.877.900 
2,014,000 

2.192.900 

2.303.100 
2,341,500 
2,355,700 

2.364.100 

2.380.100 

2.390.900 
2,410,400 


14.20 


.76 

.00 

1.82 

6.06 

8.22 

5.72 

2.85 

.03 


2,431,000 
2,449,400 

2.497.100 
2,562,200 
2,641,000 

2.694.800 
2,709,900 

2.716.800 

2.722.300 

2.728.300 

2.734.300 

2.740.100 


2.757.800 

2.771.700 
2,814,000 

2.954.800 

3.145.800 
3,279,000 
3.345.200 

3.345.800 
3,345,800 

3.345.800 

3.345.800 

3.346.700 


97 

137 

189 

456 

626 

422 

117 

56 

35 

47 

228 

54 


140 

467 

742 

081 

1,013 

688 

209 

49 
38 

ns 

50 
65 


0,020 

7,610 

11,600 

26,000 

38.500 

22,000 

7,230 

3,430 

2.060 

2,890 

13,600 

3,350 


145,190 


380 


188 

334 

477 

337 

86 

42 

37 

44 

56 

106 


359 

141 

159 

?29 

972 

950 

478 

92 

67 

61 

80 

103 


8,('i00 

26,8410 

45,620 

58,370 

62,290 

40,940 

12,850 

3,030 

2,250 

7,070 

3,310 

3,070 


275,100 


.49 
2.29 
2.87 
3.36 
6.68 I 

3.50 I 
1.0(5 
.15 
.34 
.43 
.51 , 
.77 , 


.56 

2.39 

3.31 

3.78 

6.56 

4.01 

1.22 

.18 

.37 

.50 

.57 


Accumu¬ 

lated 

run-off 

(aero-feet). 


18.650 
39,050 
74,770 

89.650 
95,390 
99,230 

103,110 
110,650 
118,450 
126,100 


1.80 i 


131,050 

152.200 

181,450 

215.350 

273.350 
308.750 
319.550 
321,110 
324.420 
328.830 
333.850 
341.090 


Section III. Bonner, Cold, and Trout Creeks (drainage 
area, 32 square miles). 


Mean 

discharge 

(second- 

feet). 


139.0 

112.0 

268.0 

127.0 

42.0 

13.0 

27.0 

35.0 

52.0 

35.0 


Total 

discharge 

(acre-feet). 


8.560 
6.520 

10,540 

7.560 
2,584 

770 
1,626 
2,140 
3,100 
2.173 


Second-feet 
per square 
mile. 


Depth on 
watershed 
(inches). 


.45 

,99 

.80 

3.69 

4.20 

2.87 

.68 

.23 

.30 

.29 

.16 

.36 


1.20 


.69 
.83 
1.14 
2.74 
3.77 
2.54 
.71 

.21 

.28 

1.38 

.33 


.52 
1.04 
.93 
4.12 
4.84 
3.21 
.79 
.26 
.34 
.33 
.18 
.41 


16.97 


.68 
.86 
1.31 
2.94 
4.35 
2.59 
.82 
.39 
.23 
.33 
1.54 
.38 


.26 I 


16.42 


316,290 

355.450 

363.630 
400,430 
443,230 

471.630 
478,590 
480,910 
483,920 
480,850 

488.450 
492,100 


498,130 

605.730 

517.330 

543.330 
581,830 

604.730 
611,900 
615,390 
617,450 
020,340 
633,940 
637,290 


.84 

2.81 

4.47 

5.91 

6.10 

4.14 

1.2»; 

.30 

.Zi 

469 

.34 


.97 
3.01 
5.15 
G.59 
7.03 
4.62 
1.45 
.34 
.25 
.80 
.37 
.45 


6,210 

4,040 

11,560 

19,870 

29,330 

20,050 

5,310 

2,590 

2,230 

2,720 

3,300 

6,520 


114,630 


22,100 

7,830 

9,780 

43.400 
59,800 
56,500 

29.400 
5,650 
3,370 

3.740 

4.740 
6,330 


.01 

.54 

1.13 

2.01 

2.87 

2.03 

.52 

.25 

.22 

.27 

.33 

.64 


.95 


252,640 


2.16 
.85 
.96 
4.39 
5.86 
5.72 
2.88 
.55 
.34 
.37 
.48 
.61 


31.06 


.70 

.56 

1.30 
2.24 

3.31 
2.26 

.GO 

.29 

.25 

.31 

.37 

.74 


12.93 


2.49 
.88 
1.10 
4.90 
6.76 
6.38 
3.32 
.64 
.38 
,42 
.54 
.71 


645,890 
672,750 
718,370 
776,740 
839,010 
879,970 
892,820 
895,850 
898,100 
905,170 
90S, 4S0 
912,450 


31.0 

142.0 

218.0 

182.0 

435.0 

303.0 

79.0 

5.0 

24.0 

20.0 

34.0 

36.0 


126.0 


29.0 

61.0 

61.0 

200.0 

321.0 

242.0 

51.0 

8.0 

21.0 

75.0 

14.9 

18.1 


51,673 


4.34 

3.50 

8.37 

3.97 

1.30 

.40 

.85 

1.09 

1.63 

1.10 


1.918 
7,910 
13.420 
10,930 
26.840 
18,050 
4.840 
325 
1,370 
1.250 
2.000 
2,225 


91.078 


1,780 
3,460 
3,765 
11,930 
10,800 
14,460 
3,130 
461 
1,267 
133 
890 
1,115 


86.0 


67.6 

64.0 

88.5 
177.0 
285.0 
166.0 

24.5 
3.2 
1.1 
3.2 

98.1 

17.1 


82.1 


918,660 
923,600 
935,KiO 
955,030 
984,360 
1,004,410 
1,009,720 
1,012,310 
1,014,540 
1,017,260 
1,020,5(H) 
1,027,080 


1,049,180 
1,057,010 
1,066,790 
1,110.190 
1,169,990 
1,226,490 
1,255,890 
1,261,540 
1,264,910 
1,268,650 
1,27.3,390 
1,279.720 


31.6 
155.0 
417.0 
333.0 
514.0 
347.0 
63.3 
12.2 
32. C 
54.0 
12.8 
9.8 


62,191 


3,540 

3,555 

5,440 

10,540 

17,520 

9,900 

1,508 

196 

64 

196 

5,835 

1,050 


.98 
4.42 
0.80 
5.68 
13.57 

9.45 

2.46 
.16 
.74 
.63 

1.05 

1.14 


6.00 
3.82 
9.66 
4.42 
1.51 
.45 
.95 
1.25 
1.81 
1.27 


Accumu¬ 

lated 

nin-off 

(acre-feet). 


8,560 
15,080 
31,620 
39,180 
41,764 
42,534 
44,160 
46,300 
49,400 
61,573 


Section IV. Prosser Creek at Alder Creek gauging station 
(drainage area, 48 square miles). 


Mean \ 
discharge 


3.92 


.90 

1.91 

1.90 

6.24 

10.04 

7.64 

1.58 

.24 

.65 

.23 

.47 

.57 


2.69 


59.344 


165.0 


19.0 

56.6 

139.0 

174.0 

233.0 

122.0 

9.2 

.6 

3.8 

4.7 
.3 

1.7 


63.6 


40.4 

34.1 

58.2 
172.0 
540.0 
526.0 
287.0 

22.8 

14.4 
11.8 

17.4 

21.3 


1,620 

8.890 
25,6^ 
19,810 
31,600 
20,700 

3.890 
747 

1,942 

3,320 

702 

604 


119,535 


1,165 

3,147 

8,520 

10,340 

14,300 

7,230 

564 

33 

228 

288 

18 

104 


45,937 


2,520 

1,900 

3,570 

10,200 

33,200 

31,370 

17,600 

1,408 

856 

730 

1,035 

1,311 


1.80 

2.00 

2.77 

6.53 

8.90 

5.20 

.77 

.10 

.03 

.10 

3.07 

.53 


1.12 
4.62 
7.84 
6.39 
15.68 
10.55 
2.83 
.19 
.80 
.73 
1.17 
1.30 


53.22 


1.04 

2.02 

2.20 

6.96 

11.57 

8.45 

1.83 

.27 

.74 

0.08 

,52 

.66 


36.34 


2.57 


.99 
4.83 
13.03 
10.40 
16.07 
10.87 
1.08 
.38 
1.02 
1.69 
.40 
.31 


2.08 
2.08 
3.19 
6.17 
10.26 
5.80 
.89 
.12 
.03 
.12 
3.43 
.61 


53,491 
61,401 
74,821 
85,751 
112.591 
130,641 
135,481 
135,806 
137,176 

138.426 

140.426 
142,651 


144,431 
147,891 
151,656 
163,586 
183,386 
197,846 
200,976 
201,437 
202,704 
202,837 
203,727 
204,842 


153 

186 

328 

144 

52 
34 
32 
56 

53 I 
44 


9,400 
10,800 
20,200 
8,680 
3,250 
2,050 
1,970 
3,405 
3,175 
2,740 


65.670 


35 I 
178 
240 
302 , 
833 I 
346 I 
100 
13 


2,125 
9,920 
14,750 
18,140 
32,780 
20,450 
6,450 
871 
1,640 
2,230 
2.048 
2,790 


Second-feet 
per square 
mile. 


3.19 
3.88 
G.83 
3.00 
1.09 
.71 
.68 
1.16 
1.11 
.92 


Depth on 
watershed 
(inches). 


Accumu¬ 

lated 

run-off 

(acre-feet). 


34.78 


208,382 
211,937 
217,377 
227,917 
245,437 
255,337 
256,845 
257,041 
257,105 
257,301 
263,136 
264,180 


42 

64 

95 

^6 

355 

243 

80 

34 

26 

.50 

251 

140 


5.16 


.59 
1.77 
4.33 
5.43 
7.27 
3.80 
.29 
.02 
.12 
.15 
.01 
.05 


1.98 


28.52 


145.0 


108,600 


1.28 

1.07 

1.82 

5.37 

16.87 

16.43 

8.97 

.71 

.45 

.37 

.54 

.67 


1.14 
5.21 
15.02 
11.60 
18.53 
12.13 
2.28 
.44 
1.14 
1.95 
.45 
.35 


70.24 


.68 
1.84 
4.99 
6.06 
8.38 
4.24 
.33 
.02 
.13 
.17 
.01 
.06 


26.92 


1.48 
1.11 
2.10 
5.99 

19.45 

18.33 

10.34 
.82 
.50 
.43 
.61 
.77 


4.55 


265,806 

274,690 

300.346 
320,156 
351,756 
372,456 

376.346 
377,093 
379,035 
382,355 
383,117 
383,721 


384,886 

388,033 

390.553 
400,893 
421,193 
428,423 
428,987 
429,020 
429,248 
429,536 

429.554 
429,658 


432,178 
434,078 
437,648 
447,848 
481,048 
512,318 
529,918 
531,326 
532,182 
532,912 
533,947 
535,258 


61.93 


102 

303 

32!) 

380 

43.3 

206 

128 

46 

6 

112 

28 

30 


114,194 


1,972 

4,300 

4,150 

19,740 

24,150 

16,370 

3,940 

1,255 

1,510 

1,332 

640 

1,306 


0,605 


2,586 

3,500 

5,840 

14,100 

21,740 

13,220 

4,920 

2,550 

1,580 

3,080 

15,400 

8,620 


97,196 


.73 
3.71 
5.00 
6.29 
11.10 
7.15 
2.08 
.28 
.50 
.68 
.72 
.96 


3.28 


3.67 

4.22 

7.88 

3.39 

1.27 

.80 

.77 

1.33 

1.24 

1.07 


3.87 

6.76 

7.08 

12.80 

7.98 

2.28 

.34 

.64 

.79 

.80 

1.09 


9,400 
20,200 
40,400 
49,080 
52,330 
54,380 
56,350 
59,755 
62,930 
65,670 


67,795 
77,715 
92.465 
110,605 
143,385 
163,835 
170,285 
171,156 
172,796 
175,026 
177.074 
179. SG4 


Section V. Twin and Euers Valleys above proposed dam 
site (drainage area, 21 square miles). 


Mean 

discharge 

(second- 

feet). 


82.8 

100.0 

172.0 

29.0 

28.4 

18.3 
17.6 

30.3 
28.8 
24.0 


Total 

discharge 

(acre-feet). 


C. 97 


.67 
1.60 
1.39 
6.90 
8.20 
5.72 
1.33 
.43 
.52 
.46 
.23 
. 45 


2.02 


.88 

1.34 
1.98 
5.14 

7.35 
5.06 
1.67 

.70 
..53 
1.04 
5.22 
2.92 


2.82 


47 

44 

132 

486 

067 

490 

270 

49 

28 

27 

33 

36 


6,272 
20,880 
20,230 
22,610 
20,020 
17,610 
7,870 
2,816 
1,571 
6,880 
1,665 
1,844 


136,868 


3,480 
3,200 
9,140 
13,420 
9,470 
8,730 
3,750 
1,434 
948 
1,050 
948 
794 


56,364 


2,890 
2,484 
8,120 
29,050 
41,020 
30,460 
16,520 
3,070 
1,611 
1,537 
1,946 
2,282 


140,963 


2.12 
7.56 
6.85 
7.75 
9.02 
6.17 
2.07 
.95 
. 55 
2.33 
..59 
.62 


.77 

1.68 

1.02 

7.71 

9.44 

6.39 

1.54 

.49 

.59 

.52 

.25 

.51 


31.51 


1.01 
1..39 
2.28 
5.50 
8.49 
5.16 
1.92 
1.00 
.62 
1.20 
6.02 
3.36 


181,836 
186,136 
190,286 
210,026 
234,176 
250,546 
254,486 
255,741 
257,251 
258,583 
259,223 
260,529 


263,115 
266,675 
272,515 
286.615 
368,355 
321,575 
326,495 
329,045 
330,625 
333,705 
349,105 
357,725 


18.9 

96.2 
130.0 
162.0 
288.0 
186.0 

53.6 
7.2 

15.3 

17.6 

18.7 
25.0 


84.9 


17.4 

41.6 
36.1 
178.0 
213.0 
148.0 

34.4 

10.6 

13.5 
11.8 

5.9 

11.5 


60.2 


3.93 


1.18 
1.20 
3.10 
4.70 
3.21 
2.96 
1.27 
.49 
.37 
.35 
.32 
.27 


.92 
2.75 
10.14 
13.90 
10 20 
5.62 
1.03 
59 
.57 
.68 
.70 


4.01 


2.44 
8.15 
7.90 
8.84 
iO. 40 
0.88 
3.08 
1.10 
.61 
2.69 
.0.5 
.72 


53.46 


1.30 
1.25 
3.57 
5.24 
3.70 
3.41 
1.47 
. 56 
.42 
.41 
.37 
.31 


22.07 


1.13 
.97 
3.17 
11.35 
10.04 
11.90 
6.45 
1.20 
.63 
.00 
.70 
.88 


55.06 


363,997 

384,877 

405,107 

427,717 

454,337 

471,947 

479,817 

482,633 

484,204 

401,084 

492,749 

494,593 


498,073 

501,273 

510,413 

523,833 

533,303 

542,033 

545,783 

547,217 

548,165 

549,215 

550,163 

550,957 


553,847 
556,331 
564,451 

593.501 
634,521 
064,981 

681.501 
684,571 
686,185 
687,722 
089,66$ 
691,020 


22.9 

34.8 

51.4 
133.0 
191.0 
131.0 

35.9 
16.0 

9.5 

11.6 

50.4 
10.7 


5,080 

5,820 

10,910 

1,790 

1,700 

1,120 

1,064 

1,860 

1,710 

1,480 


Second-feet 
per square 
mile. 


32,594 


1,152 
5,370 
7,970 
9,740 
17,700 
11,050 
3,290 
459 
896 
1,086 
1,110 
1.510 


61.333 


1,075 
2,330 
2,240 
10,620 
13,060 
8,850 
2,130 
672 
818 
716 
347 
706 


4:1,564 


1,400 

1,930 

3,160 

7,520 

11,750 

7,130 

2.220 

1,010 

548 

716 

3.000 

660 


3.94 
4.76 

8.44 
1.38 
1.35 

.87 

.84 

1.44 
1.37 
1.14 


.90 
4.58 
0.17 
7.72 
13.70 
8.84 
2.55 
.34 
.73 
.84 
.89 
1.19 


Depth on 
watershed 
(inches). 


Accumu¬ 

lated 

run-off 

(acre-feet). 


4.54 
5.20 
9.75 
1.60 
1.57 
.99 
.95 
1.66 
1.53 
1.32 


.83 
1.98 
1.72 
8.49 
10.13 
7.06 
1.64 
.53 
.64 
.56 
.28 
.55 


2.87 


58.2 


9.5 

119.0 

214.0 

253.0 

337.0 

219.0 

72.4 

25.7 

15.3 

33.0 

15.3 

16.2 


11.1 


30.5 

31.1 

81.1 
121.0 
149.0 
107.0 
28.8 

12.6 
9.5 
9.0 
8.4 
7.1 


49. C 


25.4 
24.0 

71.4 
262.0 
361.0 
2C5.0 
125.0 

26.5 
15.3 
15.1 

17.6 

19.7 


10.4 


41,044 


582 

G88 

13,200 

15,080 

20,740 

13,060 

4,460 

1,570 

862 

2,070 

«oo 

996 


74,204 


1,870 

1,725 

4,920 

7,210 

9,100 

0,380 

1,760 

772 

582 

571 

504 

426 


35,880 


1,370 

1,340 

4,380 

15,600 

22,200 

15,750 

7,090 

1,647 

918 

918 

1,050 

1,220 


74,283 


1.09 
1.06 
2.45 
6.32 
9.10 
6.25 
1.71 
.76 
.45 
.55 
2.40 
.51 


2.77 


.44 
5.68 
10.20 
12.05 
16.05 
10.45 
3.45 
1.22 
.73 
1.60 
.73 
.77 


1.03 
4.78 
7.12 
8.70 
15.80 
9.86 
2.94 
.41 
.80 
.97 
.99 
1.35 


.96 

2.08 

2.00 

9.48 

11.67 

7.90 

1.90 
.60 
.73 
.04 
.31 
.63 


38.90 


1,25 

1.72 
2.82 

6.72 
10.50 

6.37 
1.98 
.90 
.49 
.64 
2.08 
.59 


5,080 

10,900 

21,810 

23,600 

25,360 

26,480 

27,544 

29,404 

31,114 

32,694 


Section VI. Independence Creek above dam site at Inde¬ 
pendence Lalce (drainage area, 7.9 square miles). 


Mean 

discharge 

(second- 

feet). 


Total 

discharge 

(acre-feet). 


33,746 
39,116 
47,080 
56,826 
74,526 
85,676 
88,866 
89,325 
90,221 
91,307 
92,417 
93,927 


95,002 
97,332 
99,572 
110,192 
123,252 
1.32,102 
134,232 
134,9(H 
135,722 
136,438 
136,785 
137.491 


36.66 


5.28 


1.45 

1.48 

3.86 

5.77 

7.08 

5.09 

1.37 

.00 

.45 

.43 

.40 

.34 


2.36 


1.21 
1.14 
3.40 
12.47 
17.16 
12.60 
5.96 
1.26 
,73 
.72 
.84 
.94 


4.87 


.52 
6.14 
11.78 
13.46 
18.54 
11.66 
3.98 
1.40 
.77 
1.85 
SO 


1.07 
1.54 
4.40 
6.44 
8.18 
5.70 
1.57 
.69 
.52 
.51 
.45 
.38 


32.05 


1.40 
1.20 
3.92 
13.94 
19.80 
14.07 
6.87 
1.47 
.82 
.82 
.94 
1.09 


06.34 


138,891 
140,821 
143,981 
151,501 
163,251 
170,381 
172,601 
173,611 
174,159 

174.875 

177.875 
178.835 


179,117 

179,805 

193,005 

208,085 

228,825 

241,885 

246,345 

247,915 

248,777 

250,847 

743 

252,730 


254,609 
256,334 
261,254 
268,464 
277,624 
284,004 
285,764 
286,536 
287,118 
287,689 
288,193 
288,619 


290,189 
291,529 
295,909 
311,509 
333,709 
349,459 
357,149 
358,790 
.359,714 
360,632 
361,682 
362,902 


31.2 

37.0 

66.7 

10.9 

10.7 

6.9 
6.6 

11.4 

10.8 
9.0 


7.1 

36.2 

48.8 
61.0 

108.0 

69.9 
20.1 

2.7 

5.8 
6.6 
7.0 
9.4 


31.9 


6.6 

15.7 
13.6 
66.1 
80.0 

55.8 
13.0 
4.2 

5.1 
4.4 

2.2 
4.3 


1,910 
2,190 
4,100 
674 
660 
417 
400 
G9S 
644 
556 


12,249 


434 
2,030 
3.000 
3,660 
6.650 
4.160 
1,240 
173 
337 
403 
417 
568 


Second-feet 
per square 
mile. 


3.94 
4.76 
$.44 
1.38 
1.35 
.87 
.84 
1.44 
1.37 
1.14 


23.077 


22.6 


8.6 

13.1 

19.4 

49.9 

71.9 

49.4 

13.5 
6.0 
3.6 
4.3 

19.0 

4.0 


21.9 


3.5 

44.9 

80.6 

95.2 
126.0 

82.6 

27.3 
9.0 
,5.8 

12.7 

.5,8 

6.1 


41.7 


11.5 

11.7 

30.5 
45. G 
55.9 
40.2 

10.8 
4.7 

3.6 
3.4 
3.2 

2.7 


18.6 


9.6 
9.0 

26.9 

98.6 

136.0 

99.5 

47.1 

10.0 

5.8 

5.7 
6.6 
7.4 


404 

876 

842 

3,990 

4,920 

3,330 

800 

253 

308 

270 

131 

265 


16,389 


526 

724 

1,190 

2,830 

4,420 

2,680 

824 

379 

207 

270 

1,030 

249 


15,429 


219 

2,590 

4,900 

5.680 
7,800 
4,920 

1.680 
590 
325 
780 
337 
374 


.90 

4.58 

6.17 

7.72 

13.70 

$.84 

2.55 

.34 

.73 

.84 

.89 

1.19 


Depth on 
watershed 
(inches). 


4.54 

5.20 

9.75 

1.60 

1.57 

.99 

.95 

1.66 

1.53 

1.32 


Accumu¬ 

lated 

run-off 

(acre-feet), 


Section VII. Webber Lake above dam site at Webber Lake 
(drainage area, 14 square miles). 


1.03 

4.78 

7.12 

8.70 

15.80 

9.86 

2.94 

.41 

.80 

.97 

.99 

1.35 


.83 
1.98 
1.72 
8.49 
10.13 
7.06 
1.04 
.53 
.64 
.56 
.28 
0.55 


2.87 


.96 
2.08 
2.00 
9.48 
11.67 

7.90 

1.90 
.60 
.73 
.64 
.31 
.63 


1,910 

4,100 

8,200 

8,900 

9,500 

10,000 

10,400 

11,000 

11,700 

12,200 


12.700 

14.700 

17.700 

21.400 
28,000 
32,200 

33.400 
33,600 
33,900 

34.300 
34,800 

35.300 


35.700 
36,600 

37.400 

41.400 

46.400 

49.700 
50,500 

50.700 
51,000 
51,300 

51.400 

51.700 


Mean 

discharge 

(second- 

feet). 


55.2 
66.6 

118.0 

19.3 
18.9 
12.2 
11.8 
20.2 
19.2 
16.0 


12.6 

64.2 
86.5 
108.0 
192.0 
124.0 

35.7 
4.8 

10.2 

11.8 
12.4 
16.7 


Total 

discharge 

(acre*feet). 


3,390 

3,890 

7.290 

1,200 

1,170 

740 

710 

1,240 

1,140 

987 


21,757 


770 

3,570 

5,320 

6,600 

11,800 

7,370 

2.200 

307 

598 

724 

740 

1,010 


56.6 


1.09 
1.66 
2.45 
6.32 
9.10 
6.25 
1.71 
.76 
.45 
.55 
2,40 
.51 


2.77 


30,2.56 


704 

G50 

1,850 

2,720 

3,450 

2,400 

661 

290 

219 

215 

190 

160 


13,509 


589 

5a5 

1,650 

5,870 

8,340 

5,930 

2,890 

619 

345 

345 

395 

459 


27,937 


.44 
5.68 
10.20 
12.05 
16.05 
10.45 
3.45 
1.22 
.73 
1.60 
.73 
.77 


5.28 


1.45 

1.48 

3.86 

5.77 

7.08 

5.09 

1.37 

.60 

.45 

.43 

.40 

.34 


2.36 


1.21 
1.14 
3.40 
12.47 
17.16 
12.60 
5.96 
1.26 
.73 
.72 
.84 
.94 


4.88 


38.90 


1.25 

1.72 
2.82 

6.72 
10.50 

6.37 
1.98 
.90 
.49 
.64 
2.68 
.59 


;6.66 


.52 
G.14 
11.78 
13.46 
18.54 
11.66 
3.98 
1.40 
.77 
1.85 
.80 
.89 


71.79 


1.67 
1.54 
4.40 
G. 44 
8.18 
5.70 
1.57 
.69 
.52 
.51 
.45 
.38 


32.05 


11.6 

27.7 
24.1 
119.0 
142.0 

98.9 

23.0 

7.4 

9.0 

7.8 

3.9 

7.7 


40.2 


52.200 
53,000 

54.200 
57,000 

61.500 

64.100 

64.900 
65,300 

65.500 
65,800 

60.900 

67.100 


67.400 
70,000 

74.900 
80,600 

88.400 
93,300 
95,000 
95,600 

95.900 
96,700 
97,000 

97.400 


98,100 

98,800 

100,600 

103.300 
100,800 
109,200 
109,800 
HO, 100 

110.300 
110,600 
110,700 
110,900 


1.40 

1.20 

3.92 

13.94 

19.80 

14.07 

6.87 

1.47 

.82 

.82 

.95 

1.09 


66.34 


111.500 
112,000 

113.700 

119.500 
127,900 

133.800 

136.700 
137,300 
137,600 
138,000 
138,400 

138.800 


15.3 

23.2 

34.3 
88.6 

127.0 

87.5 
24.0 

10.6 
6.3 
7.7 

33.6 

7.1 


38.8 


6.2 

79.6 

143.0 

109.0 

225.0 

146.0 

48.4 

17.1 

10.2 

22.4 
10.2 
10.8 


74.0 


20.3 

20.7 
54.0 

80.8 

99.1 

71.2 

19.2 
8.4 
6.3 
6.0 
5.6 
4.8 


33.0 


16.9 

16.0 

47.0 

175.0 

240.0 

176.0 

83.5 

17.6 
10.2 
10.1 
11.8 
13.2 


68.2 


40,909 


710 

1,550 

1,495 

7,040 

8,720 

5,900 

1,420 

44$ 

546 

478 

232 

470 


29,009 


934 

1,240 

2,110 

5,020 

7,840 

4,760 

1,480 

072 

306 

478 

2,010 

441 


Second-feet 


3.94 
4.76 

8.44 
1.38 
1.35 

.87 

.84 

1.44 
1.37 
1.14 


Depth on 
watershed 
(inches). 


4.54 

5.20 

9.75 

1.60 

1.57 

.99 

.95 

1.66 

1.53 

1.32 


Accumu¬ 

lated 

run-off 

(acre-feet). 


.90 
4.58 
6.17 
7.72 
13.70 
8.84 
2.55 
.34 
.73 
.84 
.89 
1.19 

4.04 


.83 
1.98 
1.72 
8.49 
10.13 
7.06 
1.64 
.53 
.64 
.56 
.28 
.55 


2.87 


27,351 


4,590 

8,810 

10,600 

13,860 

8,720 

2,980 

1,047 

576 

1,380 

.598 

665 


54,215 


1,250 

1,150 

3,290 

4.820 

0,110 

4,260 

1,170 

516 

389 

381 

337 

284 


23,957 


1,040 

897 

2,930 

10,420 

14,800 

10,500 

5,130 

1,100 

612 

612 

702 

814 


49,563 


1.09 
1.66 
2.45 
6.32 
9.10 
6.25 
1.71 
.76 
.45 
.55 
2.40 
.51 


2.77 


.44 
5.68 
10.20 
12.05 
10.05 
10.45 
3.45 
1.22 
.73 
1.60 
.73 
.77 


1.03 
4.78 
7.12 
8.70 
15.80 
9.86 
2.94 
.41 
.80 
.97 
.99 
1.35 


54.75 


.96 

2.08 

2.00 

9.48 

11.67 

7.90 

1.90 
.60 
.73 
.64 
.31 
.63 


38.00 


1.25 

1.72 
2.82 

6.72 
10.50 

6.37 
1.98 
.90 
.49 
.64 
2.63 


3,400 

7,300 

14.600 

15.800 
16,900 
17,700 
18,400 

19.600 

20.800 
21,800 


Section VIII. Little Truckee River above dam site and 
Lower Independence Creek (drainage area, 41.1 square 
miles). 


Mean 

discharge 

(second- 

feet). 


160.0 

193.0 

344.0 

55.9 

64.7 

35.7 
34.1 

58.4 

65.5 
46.0 


22.500 
26,100 
31.400 

37.900 

49.700 
57,100 
59,300 
59,600 
60,200 

60.900 
01,700 

62.700 


63.400 

64.900 

66.400 

73.500 
82,200 
88.100 

89.500 

89.900 

90.500 
91,000 
91,200 
91,700 


92.600 

93.800 
90.000 

101,000 

108.800 

11.3.600 

115.100 
115,700 

116.100 

116.600 
118,600 
119,000 


36.6 
186.0 
257.0 
313.0 
555.0 
358.0 
103.0 

13.6 

29.6 

34.1 

36.1 

48.1 


164.0 


33.7 

80.2 

69.9 
348.0 
410.0 
280.0 

66.6 

21.4 

25.9 
22.6 

11.5 
22.2 


116.0 


Total 

discharge 

(acre-feet). 


10,050 
11,230 
21,080 
3,465 
3,400 
2,150 
2,060 
3,600 
3,310 
2.850 


63.195 


2.215 
10,330 
15,400 
18,800 
34,150 
21,300 
6,660 
878 
1,730 
2,105 
2.150 
2.920 


118,638 


2,180 

4,500 

4,340 

20,600 

25,200 

17,050 

4,100 

1,295 

1,580 

1,380 

680 

1.300 


84,165 


5.28 


1.45 
1.42 
3.86 
5.77 
7.08 
5.09 
1.37 
.60 
.45 
.43 
.40 
.34 


2.30 


1.21 
1.14 
3.40 
12.47 
17.16 
12.60 
5.96 
1.26 
.73 
.72 
.84 
.94 


4.8 


.52 1 
0.14 , 
11.78 ‘ 
13.46; 
18.54 I 

11.66 I 

3.98 I 
1.40 I 
.77 I 
1.85 

.80 I 


119.400 
124.000 
132,800 

143.400 
157,300 
166,000 
160,000 
170,000 

170.600 
172,000 

172.600 
173,200 


1.67 
1.54 
4.40 
C.44 
8.18 
5.70 
1.57 
.69 
.52 
.51 
.45 
.38 


1.40 

1.20 

3.92 

13.94 

19.80 

14.07 

6.87 

1.47 

.82 

.82 

.94 

1.09 


66.34 


174.500 

175.600 

178.900 

183.800 

189.900 
194,100 
195,300 

195.800 

196.200 

196.600 

196.900 

197.200 


198.200 

199.100 

202.100 
212,500 
227,300 

237.800 

242.900 
244,000 
244,600 

245.200 

245.900 

246.800 


44.0 

67.4 

99.5 
256.0 
368.0 
253.0 

09.5 

30.8 

18.1 

22.2 

97.5 

20.6 


112.0 


17.7 

230.0 

413.0 

488.0 

050.0 

424.0 

140.0 

49.4 

29.6 

65.0 

29.6 

31.2 


214.0 


58.8 

60.0 

156.0 

234.0 

287.0 

206.0 

55.5 

24.3 
18.1 

17.3 
16.0 
14.0 


95.5 


48.9 

46.0 

138.0 

505.0 

696.0 

511.0 

241.0 

51.0 

29.6 

29.2 

34.1 

38.5 


198.0 


2,700 
3,730 
0,100 
14,520 
22,700 
13,760 
4,280 
1,950 
1,050 
1,380 
5,790 
1,270 


79,230 


1,120 
1,325 
2r>. 400 
29,100 
40,030 
25,200 
8,580 
3,030 
1,670 
3,990 
1.7.30 
1,930 


143,105 


3,020 
3,360 
9,530 
13,900 
17,780 
12,300 
3,400 
1,490 
1,120 
1.100 
965 
834 


9.399 


3,030 

2,590 

8.340 
30,100 
42,800 
30,400 
14,850 

3,180 
1,776 
1,776 
2,040 

2.340 


Second-feet 
per square 
mile. 


3.88 

4.69 

8.32 
1.36 

1.33 
.86 
.83 

1.42 
1.35 
1.12 


4.51 
6.09 
7.60 

13.50 

8.71 

2.51 
.33 
.72 
.83 
.88 

1.17 


Depth on 
watershed 
(inches). 


4.48 
5.12 
9.61 
1.58 
1.55 
.98 
.94 
1.64 
1.51 
1.30 


.82 

1.95 
1.70 
8.37 
9.9$ 

6.96 
1.62 

.52 

.63 

.55 

.28 

.54 


2.83 


1.07 

1. G4 

2. 42 
0.22 
8.96 
6.15 
1.69 

.75 

.44 

.54 

2.37 

..50 


2.73 


.43 
5.60 
10.05 
11.8$ 
15.81 
10.30 
3.40 
1.20 
.72 
1.58 
.72 
.76 


5.20 


1.43 

1.46 

3.80 

5.68 

6.98 

5.01 

1.35 

.59 

.44 

.42 

.39 

.34 


2.33 


143,228 


1.19 
1.12 
3.35 
12.29 
16.91 
12.42 
5.87 
1.24 
.72 
.71 
.83 
.93 


4.82 


1.01 

4.71 
7.02 

8.57 

15.57 

9.72 
2.90 

.40 

.79 

.96 

.98 

1.33 


.95 

2.05 

1.98 

9.34 

11.50 

7.78 

1.87 

.59 

.72 

.63 

.31 

.62 


38.34 


Accumu¬ 

late 

run-off 

(acre-feet). 


10,000 

21.300 

42.400 
45,800 

49.200 

51.400 

53.400 
67,000 

60.300 

63.200 


65,400 
75,700 

91.100 

109.900 

144.100 
165,400 
172.000 

172.900 
174,700 

176.800 

178.900 

181.800 


Section IX. Little Truckee River above dam site and Inde¬ 
pendence Creek (drainage area, 49 square miles). 


Mean 

discharge 

(second- 

feet). 


191.0 

232.0 

409.0 

67.1 

64.7 

42.1 

40.7 
70.0 
66.6 
55.4 


43.6 
223.0 
299.0 
374.0 
664.0 
429.0 
124.0 

16.7 
35.3 
40.6 
43.1 

57.8 


184,000 

188,500 

192,900 

213,400 

238.600 
255,000 
259,700 
261,000 

262.600 
264,000 
264.600 
266,000 


1.23 
1.70 
2.78 
6.62 
10.35 
6.27 
1.95 
.89 
.48 
.63 
2.64 
.58 


36.12 


.51 

6.04 

11.57 

13.26 

18.26 
11.49 
3.92 
1.38 

.76 

1.82 

.79 


1.65 

1.52 

4.34 

6.34 
8.06 
5.61 
1.55 

.68 

.51 

.50 

.44 

.38 


31.58 


1.38 
1.18 
3.80 
13.74 
19.52 
13.87 
6.77 
1.45 
.81 
.81 
.93 
1.07 


65.33 


268.700 
272,400 

278.500 
293,000 

315.700 

329.500 

333.800 

335.700 

336.800 

338.200 
344,000 

345.200 


346. .300 

347.700 
373,100 

402.200 

442.200 

467.400 
476,000 
479,000 

480.700 

484.700 

456.400 
488,300 


492.000 

495,300 

504.800 

518.700 
536.500 

548.800 
552.200 

553.700 

554.800 

555.900 

556.900 

657.700 


196.0 


40.2 

96.5 

83.8 
412.0 
492.0 
345.0 

79.4 

25.5 

30.9 
27.0 
13.7 

26.5 


139.0 


52.9 

80.4 
119.0 
307.0 
441.0 
304.0 

83.0 

36.7 

22.1 

26.5 
117.0 

24.5 


134.0 


21.6 
275.0 
495.0 
585.0 
780.0 
507.0 
168.0 

59.3 

35.3 

78.4 

.35.3 

37.4 


256.0 


70.6 
72,0 

187.0 
280.0 
344.0 
246.0 
GO. 6 
28.9 
22.0 
21.1 

19.6 

16.7 


114.0 


560.800 
563,400 
571,700 

601.800 
644,600 
675,000 

689.800 
093.000 

694.800 
096,600 
098,600 
701.000 


58.8 
55.4 

165.0 

605.0 

834.0 

012.0 

289.0 

61.2 

35.3 

34.8 
40.6 

52.8 


237.0 


Section X. Little Truckee River above dam site, Independ¬ 
ence Creek, and Twin and Euers Valleys (drainage area, 
70 square miles). 


Total 

discharge 

(acre-feet). 

Second-feet 
per square 
mile. 

Depth on 
watershed 
(inches). 

Accumu¬ 

lated 

run-off 

(acre-feet). 

Mean 

discharge 

(second- 

feet). 

Total 

discharge 

(acre-feet). 

Second-feet 
per square 
mile. 

Depth on 
watershed 
(inches). 

Accumu¬ 

lated 

run-off 

(acre-feet). 

11,760 

3.90 

4.50 

11,800 

273.0 

16,800 

3.90 

4.50 

16,800 

13,9/u 

4.71 

5.15 

25,700 

330.0 

19,200 

4.71 

6.15 

36,000 

25,200 

S.35 

9.65 

60,900 

585.0 

36,100 

8.35 

9.05 

72' 100 

4,130 

1.37 

1.58 

55,100 

96.0 

5,900 

1.37 

1.58 

78^000 

4,050 

1.32 

1.55 

59,100 

92.4 

5,790 

1.32 

1.55 

83^800 

2,560 

.86 

.98 

61,700 

60.2 

3,660 

.86 

.98 

87,400 

2,460 

.83 

.94 

64,100 

58.1 

3,510 

.83 

.94 

9LOOO 

4,280 

1.43 

1.64 

68,400 

100.0 

6,120 

1.43 

1.64 

97^100 

3,970 

1.36 

1.52 

72.400 

95.2 

5,680 

1.36 

1.52 

102'800 

3,420 

1.13 

1.31 

75.800 

79.1 

4,900 

1.13 

1.31 

107,700 

75,800 




.1 107,660 




2,665 

.89 

1.02 

78,500 

62.3 

3,810 

.89 

1.02 

111,500 

12,400 

4.54 

4.74 

90,900 

318.0 

17,700 

4.54 

4.74 

129,200 

18,420 

6.11 

7.05 

109,300 

428.0 

26.700 

6.11 

7.05 

155^900 

22,510 

<. 64 

8.62 

131,800 

535.0 

32,200 

7.64 

8.62 

188,100 

40,300 

13.56 

15.42 

172,100 

950.0 

57,600 

13.56 

15.42 

245,700 

25,500 

8.75 

9.76 

197,600 

613.0 

36,900 

8.75 

9.76 

282,600 

7,600 

2.52 

2.91 

205,200 

177.0 

10,900 

2.52 

2.91 

293,500 

1,070 

.34 

.41 

206,300 

23.8 

1,530 

.34 

.41 

295,000 

2,060 

.72 

.79 

208.300 

50.4 

2,950 

.72 

.79 

298,000 

2,510 

.83 

.96 

210,800 

58.1 

3,580 

.83 

.96 

301,600 

2,560 

.88 

.98 

213,400 

61.7 

3,660 

.88 

.98 

308,200 

3,500 

1.18 

1.34 

216,900 

82.6 

5,000 

1.18 

1.34 

310,200 

141,095 

4.00 

54.10 


280.0 

202,530 

4.00 

54.10 . 

2,480 

.82 

.95 

219,400 

57.4 

3,550 

.82 

.95 

313,700 

5,410 

1.97 

2.07 

224,800 

138.0 

7,730 

1.97 

2.07 

321,500 

5,200 

1.71 

1.99 

230,000 

120.0 

7,440 

1.71 

1.99 

328,900 

24,500 

8.41 

9.39 

254,500 

589.0 

35,100 

8.41 

9.39 

364.000 

30,200 

10.03 

11.55 

284,700 

702.0 

43,100 

10.03 

11.55 

407,100 

20,450 

6.99 

7.82 

305,100 

490.0 

29,400 

6.99 

7.82 

436,500 

4,910 

1.63 

1.88 

310,000 

113.0 

7,020 

1.62 

1.88 

443,500 

1,540 

.52 

.59 

311,600 

30.4 

2,200 

. 52 

.59 

445,700 

1,880 

.63 

.72 

313,500 

44.1 

2,690 

.63 

.72 

448,400 

1,650 

. 55 

.03 

315,100 

38.5 

2,350 

.55 

.63 

450,800 

810 

.28 

.31 

315,900 

19.6 

1.100 

.28 

.31 

451,900 

1,620 

.54 

.62 

317,500 

37.8 

2,320 

,54 

.62 

454,200 

100,650 

2.84 

38.52 


199.0 

144,060 

2.84 

38.52 


3,240 

1.08 

1.24 

320,800 

75.6 

4,630 

1.08 

1.24 

458,900 

4,440 

l.(H 

1.70 

325,200 

115.0 

6,550 

1.64 

1.70 

405,400 

7,290 

2.43 

2.79 

332,500 

170.0 

10,400 

2.43 

2.79 

475,800 

17,400 

6.26 

6.65 

349,900 

438.0 

24,800 

6.26 

C. 65 

500,000 

27,150 

9.01 

10.39 

377,100 

631.0 

38,800 

9.01 

10.39 

539,400 

16,500 

C. 19 

6.31 

393,600 

434.0 

23,600 

6.19 

6.31 

563,000 

5,120 

1.69 

1.96 

398,700 

137.0 

7,320 

1.C9 

1.90 

670,400 

2,320 

.75 

.89 

401, 

52.6 

3,320 

.75 

.89 

673,800 

1,270 

.45 

.49 

402,300 

31.5 

1,830 

.45 

.49 

575,500 

1,650 

.54 

.63 

403.900 

37.8 

2,350 

. 54 

.63 

677,800 

6,920 

2.38 

2.(55 

410,800 

167.0 

9,900 

2.38 

2.05 

587,800 

1,520 

..50 

.58 

412.400 

35.0 

2,170 

.50 

.58 

589,900 

94.820 

2.74 

36.28 


194.0 

135,670 

2.74 

36.28 


1.330 

.44 

.51 

413.700 

30.8 

1,900 

.44 

.51 

591,800 

15.900 

5.62 

6.08 

429,600 

394.0 

22,700 

5.62 

6.08 

614,500 

30,500 

10.10 

11.66 

460.100 

707.0 

43.600 

10.10 

11.66 

6.58.100 

34,800 

11.94 

13.33 

494,900 

836.0 

49,800 

11.94 

13.33 

707,900 

48,000 

15.90 

18.36 

542,900 

1.114.0 

68,600 

15.90 

18.36 

776,500 

30,200 

10.35 

11.55 

573,100 

725.0 

43,200 

10.35 

11.55 

819,700 

10.300 

3.42 

3.94 

583,400 

240.0 

14,700 

3.42 

3.94 

839,000 

3,660 

1.21 

1.39 

587,100 

84.7 

5,190 

1.21 

1.39 

839,600 

1,990 

.72 

.76 

.589,000 

50.4 

2.840 

.72 

.76 

842,400 

4,780 

1.(50 

1.83 

593.800 

112.0 

6,840 

1.60 

1.83 

849,300 

2.0fiO 

.72 

.79 

.59.5.900 

.50.4 

2,950 

.72 

.79 

852.200 

2,300 

.7(5 

.88 

598,200 

153.0 

3,290 

.76 

.88 

855,500 

185.820 

5.22 

71.08 


375.0 

265,610 

5.22 

71.08 


4,310 

1.44 

1.65 

602.500 

101.0 

6, ICO 

1.44 

1.65 

861,700 

3,970 

1.47 

1.52 

m.m 

103.0 

5,680 

1.47 

1.52 

867,400 

11.400 

3.82 

4.36 

017,900 

268.0 

16,300 

3.82 

4.36 

883,700 

16,700 

5.71 

G. 38 

(>34,600 

400.0 

23,800 

5.71 

6.38 

907,600 

21,200 

7.01 

8.10 

655,800 

491.0 

30,300 

7.01 

8.10 

937,800 

14,700 

5.02 

5.64 

070,500 

351.0 

21,200 

5.02 

5.04 

959,000 

4.000 

1.3(5 

1.55 

674.500 

95.2 

5,790 

1.36 

1.55 

9(M,800 

1.780 

.59 

.68 

676,200 

41.3 

2,640 

.59 

.68 

967,300 

1.330 

.45 

.51 

077,600 

31.5 

1,910 

.45 

.51 

969,200 

1.310 

.43 

.50 

678,900 

301.0 

1.870 

.43 

.50 

971,100 

1,180 

.40 

.45 

680,100 

280.0 

1,680 

.40 

.45 

972,800 

990 

.34 

.38 

681,100 

23.8 

1.420 

.34 

.38 

974,200 

82,870 

2.34 

31.72 


104.0 

118,650 

2.34 

31.72 


3,660 

i.ao 

1.39 

684,700 

84.0 

5,190 

1.20 

1.39 

979,400 

3,110 

i.i:i 

1.19 

687,800 

79.1 

4,440 

1.13 

1.19 

983,800 

10,000 

3.37 

3.88 

697,800 

236.0 

14,500 

3.37 

3.88 

998,300 

36,000 

12.35 

13.80 

733,800 

866.0 

51,600 

12.3.5 

13.80 

1.049,900 

51,300 

17.00 

19.61 

785,100 

1,190.0 

73,300 

17.00 

19.61 

1,123,200 

36,800 

12.48 

13.94 

821,900 

874.0 

62,000 

12.48 

13.94 

1,175,200 

17,800 

5.90 

6.80 

839,700 

413.0 

25,400 

5.90 

6.80 

1,200,600 

3.840 

1.25 

1.46 

843,600 

87.0 

5,460 

1.25 

1.40 

1,206,100 

2,120 

.r.' 

.81 

845,700 

50.4 

3,030 

.72 

.81 

1,209,100 

2,120 

.71 

.81 

847,800 

49.8 

3,030 

.71 

.81 

1,212,100 

2,430 

.83 

.93 

850,200 

58.2 

3,470 

.83 

.93 

1,215,600 

2,820 

.93 

1.08 

853,100 

65.1 

4,(MO 

.93 

10.93 

1,219,600 

172,000 

4.8! 

65.70 


337.0 

245.460 

4.84 

65.70 



23914®—II. Doc. 451, 02-2. (In folder.) 


Note.—T he following parts of the above table are records as given In Water Supply Tapers Nos. C8, 81,83, 133, 170, and 212, U. S. G. S.; Section I, entire; Section U, January, 1904, to December, 1908, inclusive; Section III, October, 1902, to December, 1908, inclusive; Section IV, July, 1903, to October, 1904, inclusive; and May, June, and July, 1905. All the remaining records are estimated as exjjalned under “Run-ofI and stream Qow,” pp. 31-41. (To accompany report of O. C. Merrill to the Forester, Sept. 20, 1909.) 





















































































































































































































































































































































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DIAGRAM No. 29 

Mass Curves erf Yield of LakelahoeWafershed 
and of Power and /rri^af/on Ret^uiremenfs 
and Curve of Lake Levels. 

For the Period Nov. i900 -Dec.1908 /no. 




® 


Curve, of -FIud-uaNons In /eve/ of Lake Tahoe under present oonFro/. 

Curve of f/uctuah fons in /eve/ of La/ce Tahoe For assurnad storage draft. See Durve^^) 
Curve of massed net /nF/oyv Into LakeTahoe. 

Curve oFmasse^stor^e^^i^ulremenFs on LakeTahoe to supply vested rIphFs 
as resumed be/ow^^^and to maintain a Full Flow In Lower Truc/iee CanaJ durinp 
irrigation season, eKoeptin^ For months when the irrigation retiulrement 
for /S0,000 Acres be/ow Carson Dam and /S,000 Acres under Fhe Ttuekee 
Cana! plus seepage losses would be less than full capacIFy of canal. 

Curve of massed storage required From LakeTahoe to supply 4-0,000 Acres 
in RenoVaUey Irrigation ret^uirements below Truckee Dam to Pyramid 
Lake and to maiatain a F/ow at Mystic at Cal-Nev State Line For power 
purposes of SOO See. Ft. From Mar. 1st. to Oct. let. and 400 Sec. Ft. From 
Oct. 1st. to Mar. ist. 

in excess 

Ourve of massed surplus of net inF/ovV/yoF assumed storage requirements. 
Figures shown on this Curve represenF the^sforage capacity required 
each season Fo allow of the assumed draff. 

DisFances by which the Curve foils below the reference line 
show the seasonal deficiency of Fhe net yield of the Watershed 
and the amount that would have been s-uppHed by a lowering of 
the lake level. • 

The length of the ord inote at the end of the Ourve represents 
the amount of unused Surplus fhaf wou/d^ave remained in fhe lake 
had none been wasted over the spillway of the dam. 


To accompany report of O. C. MerriH to The Tores-'cn 'Sept.ZO, /909. 


House Doc. Vo. 451 ; 62d Cong., 2d Sess. 












































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































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1901 


1902 


1904 


1905 


1906 


Diagram No. 30 


UCKEE RIVER 
r TO STATE LINE 


MASS DIAGRAMS 


To accompany report of O. C. Merrill to The Forester. Sept. 1. 1909 


OF ACCUMULATED RUNOFF 
OF PORTIONS OF 

THE TRUCKEE RIVER WATERSHED 

FOR THE YEARS 1900-1906 

From Records of the United States Geological Survey 
and Estimates Based Thereon 


RUNOFF, 09 SEC. FT \ 

RUNOFF. 60 soc! FT ^ CONNER, COLD. AND TROUT CREEKS 


SE. Ava. ANN. RUNOFF, 52 SEC. FT'. 


GE. AVG. ANN. RUNOFF, 47 SEC. FT. 


LOWER LITTLE TRUCKEE 


LEGEND 

Truckee River, Tahoe to State line. 


ER LAKE 

TOR AGE. AVG. ANN. RUNOFF, A2 SEC. FT. 


-Little Truckee River at Pine Station. 

- Conner, Gold, and Trout creeks. 

- Prosser Greek, below Alder Greek. 


. STORAGE. AVG. ANN. RUNOFF. ,Ts SEC. FT. -- - Watershed of Twin sjid Euer valleys. 

- Watershed of Independence Lake. 


IR LITTLE TRUCKEE AND 
'IDEPENDENCE CREEK 


LITTLE TRUCKEE RES. NO. 1 - 

A. FT. STORAGE. AVG. ANN. RUNOFF. 137 SEC. FT. 
A. FT. STORAGE. AVG. ANN. RUNOFF. 124 SEC. FT 


Watershed of Webber Lake. 

Little Truckee above dam site and lower Independence Greek. 

Little Truckee above dam site and entire Independence Greek. 

Little Truckee above dam site. Independence Greek, and Twin and Euer valleys. 
Little Truckee below dam site and omitting Independence Greek. 


SER CREEK AT GAGING STATION BELOW ALDER CREEK 


AND EUER VALLEYS 
, AWG. AVAIL ANN. RUNOFF, 62 SEC. FT. 


E INDEPENDENCE WATERSHED 
. STORAGE. AVG. ANN. RUNOFF, 27 SEC. FT. 


Notes: 

These diagrams are based on the figures of runoff presented in 
table. 

Mean annual available runoff determined graphically by the 
method of Ripple. 

Figures shown between arrows on diagrams indicate the amount 
of storage in acre feet that would have been required in any given 
seasoq to have made that season’s runoff uniform. 


TRUCKEE RIVER AT PINE STATION 


LITTLE TRUCKEE. INDEPENDENCE CREEK. 
AND TWIN AND EUER VALLEYS 


House Doc. 451; 62d Cong., 2d Sess. 
















































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































% 


y 


Runoff in Cubic Feet Per Second 



No. I 

LAKE INDI'PENDENCE WATERSHED 


AVAH 


MBAN HUNOFr. ae a fc. ft. 


1901 


1900 


WATERSHED OF UTriM TRUCKEE 
AND LOWER INDEPENDEN 


1901 


MEAN ffUNi >F 5 


A^AILABLi : p' 




1901 


Q£L Twin an d Euer Valleys 








1901 


truckeE River FROh ' Lake TAHO B f[ To State L ine 
Omitting Donner. Trout, and ' PrfossER I 

Creeks a/vdI the Little Truckee 


MEAN Rul)ii m’-aa ;s :c. 


r>* VAll.ABLE 


1901 


Donk er. cold, ano Trout Cre eks 




LVLj 




available Br S ' 


1901 


1901 


; T 

i 

! 

1 


- - 1 

1 


1906 

































»• 


:^L 



Diagram No. 3i 


RUNOFF DIAGRAMS 

OF PORTIONS OF 

THE TRUCKEE RIVER WATERSHED 

FOR THE YEARS 1900-1906 INC. 

From Records of the United States Geological Survey 
and Estimates Based Thereon 


Notes: 

Diagram No. 3 shows the runoff of that portion of the Truckee 
River watershed between Tahoe and State Line and omitting Gold, 
Donner, Trout, and Prosser creeks and the Little Truckee River. 

Diagram No. 4 shows the runoff of that portion of the water¬ 
shed of the Little Truckee River below the dam site of Little 
Truckee Reservoir No. 1 and omitting Independence Greek. 

Diagram No. 7 shows the runoff of that portion of the water¬ 
shed of Prosser Greek which is below the dam site of Twin and 
Euer valleys. 

For description of the method of estimating the runoff where 
records were not available see text of report page --. 

The vertical red lines on the storage diagrams indicate the end 
of the main irrigation sea.son and show that the greater part of the 
stored waters is required for power purposes during months in 
which such waters are not available for irrigation uses, except by 
means of subsequent and hold-over storage in reservoirs employed 
for such purpose only. 


To accompany report of 0. C. Merrill to The Forester. Sept. I. 1909 


House Doc. 451; 62d Cong., 2d Sess. 













































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































House Doc. Ho. 451 ; 62d Cong., 2d Sess. 


■ Patented prior to 
Oct 2B, /906 


















































































































































































R.I8 E. 



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FORE.ST SERVICE U.S. DCPARTMENt OF AGRICULTURE 
1909 


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CALIFORNIA AND NEVADA 

MOUNT DIABLO MERIDIAN AND BASE! 


ADDITIONS FROM PUBLIC LAND 
national forest BOUNDARY 


'////////. DIVIDE FORMING NATIONAL FOREST BOUNDARY 



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Deacidified using the Bookkeeper process. 
Neutralizing agent: Magnesium Oxide 
Treatment Date: Feb. 2011 

PreservationTechnologies 

A WORLD LEADER IN COLLECTIONS PRESERVATION 

111 Thomson Park Drive 
Cranberry Township, PA 16066 
(724)779-2111 












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